What is the difference between clonazepam and klonopin

It is approved for the treatment of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia , as well as certain types of seizure disorders. However, benzodiazepines are also commonly used to treat difficulty sleeping and alcohol withdrawal.

Panic Disorder occurs when a person experiences unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear. These episodes have physical symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, dizziness, and nausea. Fear of future episodes is also part of panic disorder. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you because you may notice that you feel tired or dizzy. Benzodiazepines, such as clonazepam, are often used for short periods of time only.

With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medicine. Do not stop taking clonazepam without talking to your healthcare provider first. Stopping clonazepam abruptly may result in one or more of the following withdrawal symptoms: irritability, nausea, tremor, dizziness, blood pressure changes, rapid heart rate, and seizures.

Withdrawal reactions may occur when dosage reduction occurs for any reason. The use of clonazepam with drugs like opioid medications has led to serious side effects including slowed and difficulty breathing and death. Opioid drugs are medications used to treat pain and include medications such as: codeine, oxycodone, morphine, and illegal drugs like heroin. Some opioid medications are also in cough syrup. If you are taking clonazepam with an opioid medication, get medical assistance immediately if you feel dizziness or sleepiness, if you have slow or troubled breathing, or if you pass out.

Caregivers must get medical help right away if a patient does not respond and does not wake up. If you are planning on becoming pregnant, notify your healthcare provider to best manage your medications.

People living with anxiety disorders who wish to become pregnant face important decisions regarding risk versus benefit of benzodiazepine use in pregnancy. Clonazepam can increase the risk of premature birth and low birth weight.

It is important to discuss this with your doctor and caregivers. Typically, your healthcare provider will limit the number of doses you should take in one day. Your health care provider will determine the dose and method of taking the medication that is right for you based upon your response.

Clonazepam oral disintegrating tablets must remain in their original packaging. Open the package with clean dry hands before each dose. Do not try to put tablets in a pillbox if you take the orally disintegrating tablets.

Take the tablets right away, do not store for later use. Treatment usually requires a combination of methods, including medication. Clonazepam is a generic drug. Xanax, on the other hand, is a brand-name version of the drug alprazolam. Both clonazepam and Xanax are central nervous system CNS depressants and are classified as benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines affect gamma-aminobutyric acid GABA , a key chemical messenger in your brain.

These drugs cause nerve impulses throughout your body to slow down, leading to a calming effect. Both drugs treat anxiety disorders, including panic attacks in adults. Clonazepam also treats seizures in adults and children. The effectiveness and safety of Xanax has not been established in children, on the other hand. Clonazepam comes in an oral tablet, which you swallow. It also comes in an oral disintegrating tablet, which dissolves in your mouth. You can take clonazepam one to three times per day, as directed by your doctor.

Xanax comes in immediate-release and extended-release oral tablets. The generic version, alprazolam, also comes as an oral solution. Your doctor may direct you to take the immediate-release tablet several times per day. The oral solution is also an immediate-release form. You will take it several times per day. Always feeling tired?

Our guide offers strategies to help you or your loved one live better with bipolar disorder. Sign up for our newsletter and get it free. Food and Drug Administration. Updated October FDA warns about serious risks and death when combining opioid pain or cough medicines with benzodiazepines; requires its strongest warning.

Updated August 31, Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. Washington D. National Library of Medicine; updated September 5, Clonazepam Klonopin. Silver Spring, Maryland; updated October Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Taking benzodiazepines with drugs such as opioids and tricyclic antidepressants can increase the risk of severe drowsiness, respiratory depression, and even death, especially in large doses. This may not be a complete list of all possible drug interactions. Consult a doctor with all the medications you may be taking.

Both Klonopin and Xanax have warnings on their drug labels about using benzodiazepines with opioids. The combination of benzodiazepines and opioids can lead to sedation, very shallow breathing, coma, and death.

For this reason, these drugs should not be taken together. If they must be taken together, their dosages should be monitored or adjusted to ensure safety. Those who have a history of substance abuse in the past may be at an increased risk of abuse and dependence with benzodiazepines.

Benzodiazepines are intended for short-term use and should not be discontinued abruptly. Stopping these medications without tapering its doses can lead to withdrawal symptoms. In severe cases, withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening and include rebound anxiety, insomnia, and seizures.

Because of the short-acting nature of Xanax, withdrawal may be more likely to occur with Xanax compared to Klonopin. Klonopin is a long-acting benzodiazepine that is FDA approved to treat panic disorders and seizures.

It is available in immediate-release and orally disintegrating tablets. Klonopin can be used for seizure disorders in adults aged 18 years and older as well as children up to 10 years of age. Xanax is a short-acting benzodiazepine that is used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorders. It comes as an oral tablet, orally disintegrating tablet, extended-release tablet , and oral liquid. Xanax is typically prescribed in adults aged 18 years and older.

Klonopin and Xanax are not the same. Klonopin lasts longer in the body compared to Xanax. Klonopin can also be used to treat certain types of seizures in adults and children. Both Klonopin and Xanax are effective treatments for symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks. Klonopin can be taken once or twice daily in some cases while Xanax may need to be taken multiple times per day.

Withdrawal symptoms may be more likely to occur with Xanax. Consult a physician to determine your best treatment option. Klonopin and Xanax are not generally recommended to be used during pregnancy.

There is a possibility that these drugs could cause birth defects. Many medical professionals will recommend avoiding benzodiazepines if you are pregnant.