Clonazepam oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Klonopin. Clonazepam also comes as an orally disintegrating tablet.
This article describes dosages, strengths, and details on how to take both clonazepam oral forms. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for clonazepam.
If you want to know more about clonazepam oral tablets, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Boxed warnings
This drug has boxed warnings about the risks of misuse, addiction, and dependence. It also has a boxed warning about the risk of side effects if taken with opioid drugs. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
See the end of this article for more information.
Forms and strengths of clonazepam
Clonazepam comes as follows:
Forms and strengths:
- tablet that you swallow: 0.5 milligrams (mg), 1 mg, 2 mg
- orally disintegrating tablet that dissolves in your mouth: 0.125 mg, 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg
Dosage of clonazepam
This article describes the recommended dosages* for clonazepam oral tablets and orally disintegrating tablets.
If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should take the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of clonazepam oral tablets without your doctor’s recommendation.
* The drugmaker provides these recommended dosages.
Usual recommended dosages of clonazepam in adults
Usually, doctors start by prescribing a low dosage of clonazepam oral tablets. Then, they’ll adjust it over time until the right dosage is reached. Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of clonazepam that gives the desired outcome.
You’ll usually take clonazepam two to three times per day. Your starting dose and dose increases will depend on your condition. They’ll also depend on the way your body responds to the drug.
The following tables show the recommended dosages in milligrams (mg) for clonazepam oral forms’ approved uses.
| Condition | Starting dosage | Dosage increases* | Maximum dosage |
| seizure disorder | no more than 1.5 mg per day, divided into 3 doses | every 3 days, increase by 0.5 mg to 1 mg | 20 mg per day, divided into 3 doses |
* Typically, doctors increase the clonazepam dosage until seizures are managed. When they are, you’ll stay on that dosage. This becomes your maintenance dosage for the remainder of your treatment.
| Condition | Starting dosage | Dosage increase | Recommended dosage | Maximum dosage† |
| panic disorder | 0.5 mg per day, divided into 2 doses | after 3 days, increase to 1 mg per day, divided into 2 doses | 1 mg per day, divided into 2 doses | 4 mg per day, divided into 2 doses |
† If you take 1 mg per day, your doctor will check that your symptoms are managed. If they’re not, your doctor may increase your dosage. They’ll likely increase it slowly by 0.125 mg to 0.25 mg twice per day every 3 days.
Tapering
If you stop taking clonazepam, you’ll need to wean off it by reducing your dosage slowly. This is called tapering. If you don’t taper the dosage, you’ll be at a higher risk of withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug on which your body has become dependent. Dependence means your body needs the drug to function like usual.
Clonazepam has a boxed warning about the risks of dependence, misuse, and addiction. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
If you’re interested in stopping clonazepam, talk with your doctor. They’ll prepare a tapering schedule to help you stop taking it safely.
Dosages of clonazepam in children
Clonazepam oral tablets and orally disintegrating tablets are approved for use in children to treat seizure disorder. Children’s dosages depend on age or body weight.
Usually, doctors start by prescribing your child a low dosage of clonazepam oral tablets. Then, they’ll adjust it over time until the right dosage is reached. Ultimately, your child’s doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of clonazepam that gives the desired outcome.
Your child will usually take clonazepam two to three times per day. Their starting dosage and dosage increases will depend on the way their body responds to the drug.
Infants and children up to age 10 years or weighing up to 30 kilograms (kg)
Clonazepam oral tablets’ dosage is based on the child’s body weight in kg. For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb). So 30 kg is about 66 lb.
The following table shows the recommended dosages. Your child should always take the dosage their doctor prescribes.
| Starting dosage | Dosage increases* | Maintenance dosage | Maximum dosage |
| • 0.01 mg/kg/day to 0.03 mg/kg/day, divided into 2 or 3 doses, or • no more than 0.05 mg/kg/day, divided into 2 or 3 doses | every 3 days, increase by 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg | 0.1 mg/kg/day to 0.2 mg/kg/day, divided into 3 doses | 0.2 mg/kg/day, divided into 3 doses |
* Typically, doctors will increase the clonazepam dosage until your child’s seizures are managed. When they are, your child will continue that dosage even if they haven’t reached the maintenance dosage. The maintenance dosage is the dosage your child will take for the remainder of treatment.
Children ages 10 years and older weighing more than 30 kg
The following table shows the recommended dosages. Your child should always take the dosage their doctor prescribes.
| Starting dosage | Dosage increases† | Maximum dosage |
| no more than 1.5 mg per day, divided into 3 doses | every 3 days, increase by 0.5 mg to 1 mg | 20 mg per day, divided into 3 doses |
† Typically, doctors will increase the clonazepam dosage until your child’s seizures are managed. When they are, your child will continue that dosage. This becomes their maintenance dosage for the remainder of treatment.
Tapering
If your child stops taking clonazepam, they’ll need to wean off it by reducing their dosage slowly. This is called tapering. If they don’t taper the dosage, they’ll be at higher risk of withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug on which your body has become dependent. Dependence means your body needs the drug to function like usual.
Clonazepam has a boxed warning about the risks of dependence, misuse, and addiction. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
If you’re interested in stopping clonazepam treatment for your child, talk with their doctor. They’ll prepare a tapering schedule to help your child stop taking it safely.
Dosage adjustments for clonazepam
Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of clonazepam oral tablets based on several factors, including:
- the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
- your age
- your other health conditions
- your other medications
Missed dose of clonazepam
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of clonazepam oral tablets. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.
Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose. If you do, it could lead to side effects.
For tips on how to plan your doses of clonazepam oral tablets and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:
- downloading a reminder app on your phone
- setting an alarm
- putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table
Frequently asked questions
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about clonazepam and its dosage.
Can clonazepam be used for anxiety, sleep, or depression? If so, what is the dosage?
Yes, doctors often prescribe clonazepam for anxiety and sleep problems. But these are off-label uses. That means doctors prescribe the drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved to treat.
But doctors aren’t likely to prescribe clonazepam for depression. This is because the drug may worsen depression symptoms. These include irritability, sadness, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors. To learn about treatment options for depression, talk with your doctor.
Clonazepam has been studied for off-label use in:
- anxiety
- restless leg syndrome
- abnormal sleep behaviors
Ongoing study and medical consensus help determine the dosages for off-label uses. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about the use of clonazepam for anxiety or sleep.
Is 1 mg a high dose of clonazepam?
It can be a high dose, but it depends on the condition it’s treating.
For example, the maintenance dosage for seizure disorder depends on your physical symptoms. It doesn’t depend on a specific target dosage. The maximum adult dosage of clonazepam for seizure disorder is 20 mg per day in some cases. But you may take a much lower dose than that.
If you take clonazepam for panic disorder, your target dosage will be 1 mg per day. But it’s possible that your doctor could prescribe 4 mg per day to manage your symptoms. In this case, that would be considered a high dose.
Talk with your doctor about the dosage of clonazepam that’s safe for you to take. They’ll consider several factors. These include your overall health and the way your body responds to the drug.
Will clonazepam be taken long term?
It might be, if you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition.
But risks and side effects are more likely with long-term clonazepam use. For example, dependence is more likely with long-term use. And long-term use increases the risk of withdrawal if you suddenly stop taking the drug.
Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug on which your body has become dependent. Dependence means your body needs the drug to function like usual.
Clonazepam has a boxed warning about the risks of dependence, misuse, and addiction. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
You might take clonazepam for a short time or a long time. Either way, talk with your doctor about weaning off the drug by reducing your dosage slowly. This tapering schedule will help you stop taking it safely.
Free prescription coupons
Seriously … free. Explore prices that beat the competition 70% of the time.
Get free cardHow clonazepam is taken
Clonazepam oral tablets: You’ll take these tablets by mouth. You can take them with water and swallow them whole. You should not chew or crush them. To get your prescribed dosage, you may split certain tablets in half using the score line (groove) on them. (All strengths of the tablets may not have a score line.) If you have questions about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Clonazepam orally disintegrating tablets: These tablets dissolve quickly after they’re placed on your tongue. They should not be chewed, split, or crushed. If needed, you can wash them down with water after they dissolve. Be sure your hands are dry before removing the tablets from the foil blister pack. Otherwise, they may begin to dissolve in your hand, which prevents you from getting the full dose.
You’ll typically divide your daily dose into a few smaller doses throughout the day. So, you’ll take a tablet two or three times per day. Your doctor may advise that you take this medication around the same times each day. This helps to keep a consistent amount of the drug in your body. And that can help the drug work more effectively.
If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form. Clonazepam orally disintegrating tablet may also be an option for you if you have difficulty swallowing pills.
Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.
Clonazepam coupon
Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for clonazepam when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.
Overdose of clonazepam
It’s important that you do not take more clonazepam than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to serious side effects.
Symptoms of clonazepam overdose
Symptoms of an overdose can include:
- drowsiness
- lethargy
- trouble speaking
- slow reflexes
- agitation, in rare cases
- confusion
- coma
What to do if you take too much clonazepam
If you think you’ve taken too much clonazepam, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.
If you have a clonazepam overdose, you may be given a drug called flumazenil. It’s used for benzodiazepine overdoses. (Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine.) But flumazenil should be used with caution in any of the following situations:
- if you have seizures
- if you’ve taken benzodiazepines long term
- if you take tricyclic antidepressants, such as imipramine (Tofranil) and amitriptyline
What to ask your doctor
This article describes the usual recommended dosages for clonazepam oral tablets. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.
Do not change your dosage of clonazepam oral tablets without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take clonazepam oral tablets exactly as your doctor prescribes them. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How slowly should I decrease my clonazepam dosage when I stop taking it?
- Is the oral tablet or orally disintegrating tablet a better choice for my clonazepam dosage?
- If I’m age 65 years or older, will my clonazepam dosage be lower?
- Should my dose of clonazepam be lower if I take other seizure medications?
Boxed warnings for clonazepam
This drug has boxed warnings about the risks of misuse, addiction, and dependence. It also has a boxed warning about the risk of side effects if taken with opioid drugs. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Risk of misuse and addiction. If you take clonazepam, you may be at risk of misuse or addiction. Misuse is when you use a drug in a way that’s different from how it’s prescribed. Addiction is when you keep taking a drug even though it may be causing harm. This risk may involve alcohol or other drugs taken together with clonazepam. Your doctor may assess your risk of misuse and addiction before they prescribe clonazepam.
Risk of dependence. If you take clonazepam, you may be at risk of dependence. Dependence is when you need to keep taking a drug to function like usual. If you stop taking the drug suddenly, you may have serious withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures. Withdrawal is side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug on which your body has become dependent.
Risk of side effects if taken with opioid drugs. If you take clonazepam with opioid drugs, you may be at risk of serious side effects. Examples of opioid drugs include hydrocodone (Hysingla ER), oxycodone (OxyContin, others), and morphine (Mitigo, MS Contin). Side effects include extreme sedation, trouble breathing, coma, and death. Due to this risk, your doctor will avoid combining clonazepam with opioids.
Talk with your doctor if you’d like more information on these warnings.
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.