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Klonopin
Diagnosis & Treatment > Seizure Medications > Klonopin > Introduction to Klonopin (clonazepam)
 

Introduction to Klonopin (clonazepam)

Klonopin is the brand name used in the United States and some other countries for the seizure medicine clonazepam. In Canada and the UK, the brand name Rivotril is used for clonazepam. In India, the brand name is Epitril.

Klonopin has been available in the United States since 1975. Generic clonazepam is also available.

Klonopin is a benzodiazepine; consequently, tolerance may potentially develop over time, causing a diminishment of efficacy.

Forms of Klonopin
Klonopin is manufactured in the United States by Roche Pharmaceuticals. The name or appearance may differ in other places. The dose will usually be the same. These descriptions apply to the U.S. versions:

Tablets
0.5 mg: round, orange-colored tablet marked with K
1 mg: round, blue tablet marked with K
2 mg: round, white tablet marked with K


Wafers (orally disintegrating tablets) (not shown)
White, round tablets packaged in a blister pack, at various doses:

0.125 mg (marked 1/8)
0.25 mg (marked 1/4)
0.5 mg (marked 1/2)
1 mg (marked 1)
2 mg (marked 2)

Generic clonazepam tablets in similar doses are available from several companies in the United States.

Rivotril is available in the UK in 0.5-mg (500-microgram) and 2-mg tablets.

How to take and store Klonopin
Regular Klonopin tablets should be swallowed whole, with a little water.

Klonopin wafers will dissolve rapidly in saliva, so water is not necessary (but drinking some is fine). Using dry hands, the wafer should be placed in the mouth immediately after peeling back the foil from the blister pack.

Klonopin can be taken either with or without food. It is recommended that if the doses are not equally divided during the day, the largest dose should be taken at bedtime to minimize the possibility of daytime sedation.

Patients should be cautioned if you write a new prescription using a different strength of Klonopin. For example, if you've been prescribing 0.5-mg tablets and the new prescription is for 1-mg tablets, advise the patient about how many Klonopin tablets should now be taken. Klonopin should be stored at room temperature.

Missed Doses
Advise patients to take a forgotten dose immediately unless it is almost time for the next dose. In that case, they should skip the forgotten dose (rather than taking a double dose) or call for further instructions.