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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Side effects of Klonnopin
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Side effects of Klonnopin
by Mike Eccleston, Jun 12, 2000 12:00AM
My Grandmother had some major surgery about 4 weeks ago. We noticed some confusion and short-term memory loss that we were told was a side effect of the anesthesia. We were also told it would go away in about a week, which it seemed to do. Now, she is recovering in a nursing home. My grandmother also has had to deal with a slight case of depression over the years. The doctor that oversees her medication there changed her prescription from Valium to Klonnopin. Within a day of the switch, we noticed confusion and short term memory loss again. We can't seem to convince her current doctor that it may be related to the Klonnopin. Has anyone else seen this? The Klonnopin is supposedly a new drug and is therefore better than the Valium.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS MD-JM, Jun 13, 2000 12:00AM
Mike,
Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam) are both medicaions in the benzodiazepine family. These medications are used for anxiety, insomnia and seizures to name a few indications. Valium is a longer acting medication in comparison to Klonopin but both are equally efficacious and have similar side effects. Sedation and memory impairment may occur at therapeutic doses while confusion can occur if one is in withdrawal or overmedicated. Delirium due to any cause should be ruled out. Please discuss these issues further with your grandmothers' physician. I hope this was helpful.
Sincerely,
HFHS MD-JM
Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam) are both medicaions in the benzodiazepine family. These medications are used for anxiety, insomnia and seizures to name a few indications. Valium is a longer acting medication in comparison to Klonopin but both are equally efficacious and have similar side effects. Sedation and memory impairment may occur at therapeutic doses while confusion can occur if one is in withdrawal or overmedicated. Delirium due to any cause should be ruled out. Please discuss these issues further with your grandmothers' physician. I hope this was helpful.
Sincerely,
HFHS MD-JM
I am currently on Klonopin for alcohol withdrawal. I am at an in-patient psych ward and was placed on 1 3/4 mg of Klonopin every four hours to avoid seizures. When I first started the high dose I was a little spacey, but now I am out on a work pass as you can see by my posting here. I did have delirium and seizures but it was from the alcohol withdrawal before me psych Doc raised the dose up from 1 1/4 mg every four hours. Klonopin is great stuff. Too bad I have to slowly taper off it over the next few months. I have never slept better in my entire life!