"Clonazepam" is an antiepileptic drug that refers to benzodiazepine derivatives. After taking the drug "Clonazepam" reviews are left mostly positive. The drug has a muscle relaxant and hypnotic effect, and also has a sedative effect.
Composition, release form of the drug "Clonazepam"
The drug can be purchased in tablets with different contents of the main component:
- 0.5 mg In addition to clonazepam, the composition includes lactose monohydrate. Sodium carboxymethyl starch is also a component of the tablets. Clonazepam tablets contain magnesium stearate, gelatin. Excipients are also talc and potato starch. The color of the tablets gives the dye E110.
- 2 mg Among the auxiliary ingredients are polysorbate 80, lactose monohydrate. The composition of the drug contains sodium carboxymethyl starch and sodium lauryl sulfate. Additional ingredients are also talc, gelatin. Other substances also belong to auxiliary components - magnesium stearate, rice, potato starch.
Pharmacological action of the drug "Clonazepam"
Clonazepam has a depressing effect on a large number of structures that make up the central nervous system, mainly those related to emotional activity. The action of the drug "Clonazepam" instructions for use, the reviews are displayed as calming, anti-anxiety and sleeping pills (the latter is mild). The drug helps to reduce skeletal muscle tone, prevents the appearance of generalized convulsive seizures. There is a positive effect on the course of epileptic seizures (focal, generalized).
Pharmacokinetics
The medicine is almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, excreted mainly by the kidneys (metabolites), a small part (2%) is excreted unchanged. The half-life process takes from 20 to 40 hours. The bioavailability of the drug taken orally is 90%, the connection with blood proteins is 85%, the highest concentration is achieved on average after 2.5 hours. When treated with Clonazepam, its components pass into breast milk.
Indications for use of the drug
Clonazepam tablets are suitable for the treatment of patients of different ages with epilepsy, regardless of its manifestation:
- partial seizures (local, focal) of any severity;
- convulsive states (tonic, clonic);
- simple seizures of a secondary generalized nature;
- atypical absences (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome);
- myoclonic seizures;
- typical absences
- tonic-clonic attacks of primary and secondary severity.
"Clonazepam" is prescribed to lower muscle tone, as a sleeping pill and during the treatment of psychomotor crises.
The use of the drug "clonazepam"
The desired dosage is set taking into account many factors. At the initial stage of therapy, a small dose of Clonazepam (0.5 mg) is used, the dosage is gradually changed until the desired effect is obtained. In this case, exceeding the permissible dosage is prohibited. According to reviews, "Clonazepam" can not be abruptly canceled, even when the treatment was short-lived. A sharp rejection of the drug threatens the development of an epileptic seizure.
Admission for epilepsy:
- Adults Initial therapy is performed using not more than 1 mg of the drug. The daily dose is divided into 3 or 4 doses, which should be carried out at the same interval. In the absence of the ability to use the drug in equal doses, the majority of “clonazepam” is drunk before going to bed. Usually a sufficient daily dose is in the range of 4 to 8 mg of the drug. The maintenance dose should be no more than 20 mg (achieved over a period of 2-4 weeks of therapy). When an effective daily dose is determined that allows you to maintain a normal state of the body, it is allowed to take it once before bedtime.
- Children (weight not less than 30 kg). According to reviews, "Clonazepam" is initially prescribed to children at 0.5 mg to determine its optimal dose.
Reception for a syndrome accompanied by paroxysmal fear:
- Adults First, patients are prescribed 1-2 doses of the drug per day (0.5 mg at a time). For most patients, a therapeutic dose of 1 mg / day is sufficient. You can not use more than 1 mg of Clonazepam per day. Reviews, however, show that in some cases, doctors can increase the dose to 4 mg. In such cases, the dosage changes gradually (interval - 3 days, it is possible to add 0.5 mg). When you want to reduce the severity of drowsiness in the daytime, the dose calculated for the reception during the day can be taken before bedtime.
- Children. For patients whose age does not exceed 18 years, when revealing the syndrome, the drug may be ineffective and unsafe.
In order to avoid complications, the drug “Clonazepam” recommends that doctors take the reviews strictly according to the recommendations of the specialist who conducts the treatment.
Contraindications to the use of the drug "Clonazepam"
Tablets are not used with hypersensitivity to the substances of which they consist. The drug is contraindicated in such conditions:
- myasthenia gravis;
- impaired consciousness;
- carrying a child, breastfeeding;
- glaucoma (closed angle);
- central respiratory disorders, severe respiratory failure;
- severe renal and hepatic failure;
- manifestations of sleep apnea syndrome;
- alcohol poisoning;
- acute porphyria.
Side effects of the drug "Clonazepam"
Consider the side effects that Clonazepam can cause. The use of the drug may be accompanied by negative reactions of the body. Perhaps the appearance of apathy, nausea, irritability. With a negative reaction of the body, a person quickly gets tired, he has a violation of coordination of movements. To reduce the power of side effects, you must first use a small dose, gradually increasing until it becomes optimal.
It is known that during the treatment with Clonazepam, using it in violation of the recommendations may cause an overdose. In such cases, stunning is observed, which can lead to confusion, a stupor, which can result in a coma. Other symptoms include vascular collapse, respiratory failure, and drowsiness. It is necessary to rinse the stomach (effective immediately after taking the tablets), conduct appropriate therapy. It is important to regularly monitor changes in indicators such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration. In some cases, mechanical ventilation is required. There is an antidote - Flumazenil, but it is not suitable for administration to patients who have been treated with Clonazepam for a long time.
Do not combine Clonazepam and alcohol. Reviews allow you to make sure that such a combination can pose a threat to life. The same applies to all drugs that act on the central nervous system, inhibiting its functioning.
Medicinal interaction of the drug "Clonazepam"
The effect of the use of the drug is enhanced by narcotic analgesics, anticonvulsants. The same result is observed when it is used together with antidepressants, antipsychotics, barbiturates, also when combined with alcohol and substances that reduce the tone of skeletal muscles. The effectiveness of treatment decreases when nicotine enters the body.
Cost, reviews about the drug "Clonazepam"
You can buy Clonazepam tablets in Moscow for 97-150 rubles. (30 pcs.). The drug is effective in epilepsy if the doctor's recommendations are followed. With atonic seizures, two months of therapy may be sufficient, during which time you can switch to maintenance treatment. Side effects are sometimes observed, but mainly only at the initial stage of treatment, weakness is often present.
Judging by what information the reviews contain, Clonazepam can get rid of increased muscle tone in about three weeks. Doctors can prescribe medication for anxiety, fear, and IRR, which is accompanied by panic attacks. The drug is effective, acts quickly.
Reviews "Clonazepam" is displayed as a good tool that performs its task, but can lead to poor health (weakness, fatigue, etc.).