Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking clonazepam as follows:
- Starting clonazepam at a low dose, watching for the response, and gradually changing the dose, to help optimum control of your symptoms, can contribute to controlling/reducing the risk for drowsiness and dizziness due to the medication. If the dizziness becomes bothersome, report it to your physician and other health care personnel, for any change in plan of care to be considered. Stay away from activities, such as, driving and operating heavy machinery, until you are used to the side effects caused by clonazepam intake.
- Clonazepam can take some time to fairly adjust to your body, before any relief with your complaints and easing of side-effects is experienced. So, do not discontinue taking the medication without your physician’s consult, as you failed to see the desired result immediately after taking the medication.
- Clonazepam use in expectant mothers could harm the unborn baby and result in pregnancy complications, such as, low birth weight baby, small head circumference, and preterm delivery. So, clonazepam use should be avoided during pregnancy and in women planning to get pregnant. Women in the child-bearing age group, taking clonazepam on a regular basis, must employ effective contraceptive measures in order to avoid getting pregnant.
- Clonazepam use, especially in individuals with history of anxiety and bipolar disorder, can sometimes result in exacerbation of depressive symptoms, hallucinations, changes in behavior, irritability, compromised sexual drive, and provoke thoughts of suicide. Individuals taking clonazepam can also present compromised memory and forgetfulness. Report any deterioration of symptoms of mood disorder immediately to your physician, so that, a change in plan of care could be considered.
