What Is Clonazepam Prescribed For?

 Clonazepam (Klonopin®) is a benzodiazepine medication that is available by prescription only. Many people may wonder, "What is it prescribed for?" The drug is commonly used for the treatment of panic disorder and several different types of epileptic seizures.
 
Panic disorder is a specific type of anxiety disorder. Sometimes, people deal with panic disorder by avoiding situations and places that may lead to a panic attack; this can cause them to become "housebound," or agoraphobic. Clonazepam is approved to treat panic disorder in people with or without agoraphobia.
 
There are over 30 different types of seizures a person with epilepsy may experience. Clonazepam is specifically used to treat:
 
  • Seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (a severe form of epilepsy)
  • Akinetic seizures (also known as atonic seizures), which are characterized by a sudden loss of muscle tone, causing "drop attacks"
  • Myoclonic seizures, which are characterized by sudden, brief muscle jerks
  • Absence seizures, which are characterized by brief periods of decreased awareness or "spacing out."
     
Occasionally, healthcare provider may also prescribe clonazepam for "off-label" uses, such as:
 
(Click What Is Clonazepam Used For? for more information on what clonazepam is prescribed for and to find out if this drug is suitable for children.)
 
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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