Clorazepate

Clorazepate is a drug that is commonly used to treat alcohol withdrawal, anxiety, and seizures. The medication -- which is a benzodiazepine -- works by enhancing the effects of a specific calming chemical in the brain. As a result, it can reduce anxiety, stop seizures, and cause muscles to relax. Both short-acting and long-acting forms of clorazepate are available. Common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea.

 

What Is Clorazepate?

Clorazepate (Tranxene®) is a prescription medication that is used to treat the following conditions:
 
(Click What Is Clorazepate Used For? for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes Clorazepate?

Clorazepate is currently made by Ovation Pharmaceuticals.
 

How Does Clorazepate Work?

Clorazepate is part of a group of medicines known as benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines have several different effects on the body, including:
 
  • Stopping seizures
  • Reducing anxiety
  • Causing sleepiness
  • Relaxing muscles
  • Impairing short-term memory.
     
All benzodiazepines can have these effects to some degree, depending on the specific medication and the dosage. They work in the brain by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a brain chemical that is naturally calming. GABA can slow down or stop certain nerve signals in the brain. This is why clorazepate and other benzodiazepines are known as mild tranquilizers, sedatives, or central nervous system depressants (CNS depressants).
 
(Clorazepate Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;