Rivotril (Clonazepam) belongs to the class of medications called benzodiazepines. In general, benzodiazepines are used as a sedative or to decrease seizures or anxiety. Rivotril (Clonazepam) is used to treat seizure disorders. It helps by slowing the activity of the nerves in the brain (i.e., the central nervous system).

Rivotril (Clonazepam) may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of Rivotril (Clonazepam) may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of Rivotril (Clonazepam) may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested Rivotril (Clonazepam) for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking Rivotril (Clonazepam), speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking Rivotril (Clonazepam) without consulting your doctor.

Do not give Rivotril (Clonazepam) to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take Rivotril (Clonazepam) if their doctor has not prescribed it.

The dose of Rivotril (Clonazepam) is determined based on how much is needed to control seizures and varies from person to person. It is important that the dose be individualized to your specific needs to avoid decreased coordination or excessive drowsiness.

The recommended adult starting dose of Rivotril (Clonazepam) should not be greater than 1.5 mg per day in 3 divided doses. This helps to minimize drowsiness and other side effects. Your doctor will gradually increase the dose until your seizures are controlled. The recommended maintenance dose for adults is 8 mg to 10 mg per day in 3 divided doses.

For children up to 10 years old or who weigh 30 kilograms or less, the dose is based on body weight. The starting dose should be calculated as 0.01 mg per kilogram of body weight per day to 0.03 mg per kilogram of body weight per day, divided into 2 or 3 doses. The maximum starting dose should be no more than 0.05 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. The doctor will gradually increase the dose until the child’s seizures are controlled. Generally, the maintenance dose is between 0.1 mg per kilogram and 0.2 mg per kilogram of body weight.

Rivotril (Clonazepam) may be taken with food or on an empty stomach. Avoid drinking grapefruit juice while you are taking Rivotril (Clonazepam) as it can increase the levels of Rivotril (Clonazepam) in your blood.

Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take Rivotril (Clonazepam) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Rivotril (Clonazepam) at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Rivotril (Clonazepam). If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Rivotril (Clonazepam). Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• clumsiness or unsteadiness
• delayed reaction
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• drowsiness
• increased watering of the mouth
• muscle weakness
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• abnormal thinking (disorientation, delusions, or loss of sense of reality)
• anxiety
• behaviour changes (e.g., aggressiveness, agitation, unusual excitement, nervousness, or irritability)
• confusion
• convulsions (seizures)
• cough
• hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren't there)
• increased falls
• memory loss of recent events
• nightmares or trouble sleeping
• signs of Depression (e.g., poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, thoughts of suicide)

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• signs of a Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) (e.g., Hives; difficulty breathing; or swelling of the mouth, tongue, lips, or throat)
• thoughts of self-harm, suicide

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Rivotril (Clonazepam).

0.5 mg
Each pale orange, cylindrical, biplane, scored, bevelled-edged tablet, with "ROCHE" over "0.5" on one side, cross-scored on the other, contains 0.5 mg of Rivotril (Clonazepam). Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, iron oxide red, iron oxide yellow, lactose, magnesium stearate, potato starch, and talc. Gluten-, paraben-, sodium-, sulfite-, and tartrazine-free.

2 mg
Each white, cylindrical, biplane, scored, bevelled-edged tablet, with "ROCHE" over "2" on one side, cross-scored on the other, contains 2 mg of Rivotril (Clonazepam). Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, lactose, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose. Gluten-, paraben-, sodium-, sulfite-, and tartrazine-free.

Do not use Rivotril (Clonazepam) if you:

• are allergic to Rivotril (Clonazepam), or any ingredients of the medication
• have had an allergic reaction to any other benzodiazepine (e.g., Lorazepam, Diazepam, Oxazepam)
• have acute narrow or closed angle Glaucoma
• have Myasthenia Gravis
• have severe breathing problems
• have severe liver disease
• have Sleep Apnea

Rivotril (Clonazepam) may be used by people with open angle glaucoma who are receiving appropriate treatment.

There may be an interaction between Rivotril (Clonazepam) and any of the following:

• Abiraterone acetate
• alcohol
• antihistamines (e.g,. cetirizine, doxylamine, Diphenhydramine, Hydroxyzine, Loratadine)
• antipsychotics (e.g., Chlorpromazine, Clozapine, Haloperidol, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone)
• Aprepitant
• azelastine
• "azole" antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, Voriconazole)
• barbiturates (e.g., butalbital, Phenobarbital)
• benzodiazepines (e.g., Alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam)
• Bicalutamide
• boceprevir
• Bosentan
• brimonidine
• Buspirone
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• chloral hydrate
• Clonidine
• Cobicistat
• conivaptan
• Crizotinib
• Dabrafenib
• Dasatinib
• Deferasirox
• Dronedarone
• efavirenz
• Entacapone
• Enzalutamide
• general anesthetics (medications used to put people to sleep before surgery) grapefruit juice
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• imatinib
• kava kava
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• magnesium sulfate
• Methadone
• mifepristone
• Mirtazapine
• Mitotane
• Modafinil
• muscle relaxants (e.g., Baclofen,  Cyclobenzaprine, methocarbamol, orphenadrine)
• narcotic-containing medications (e.g., codeine, Oxycodone, morphine)
• Nabilone
• nefazodone
• Norfloxacin
• Olopatadine
• Pramipexole
• proton pump inhibitors (e.g., Lansoprazole, Omeprazole)
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• Ropinirole
• St. John's wort
• scopolamine
• seizure medications (e.g., Clobazam, Carbamazepine, Levetiracetam, phenobarbital, Phenytoin, primidone, Topiramate, Valproic acid, zonisamide)
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Citalopram, Duloxetine, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• siltuximab
• simeprevir
• Tapentadol
• tetrahydrocannabinol
• thalidomide
• theophyllines (e.g., Aminophylline, Oxtriphylline, Theophylline)
• Tocilizumab
• tolcapone
• Tramadol
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Desipramine, Trimipramine)
• valerian
• Zolpidem
• Zopiclone

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Rivotril (Clonazepam). Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications; you should let your prescriber know if you use them.