Klonopin dosage, forms, and strengths

Klonopin is a brand-name prescription drug used as an anticonvulsant to manage certain types of seizures in adults and children with epilepsy or other seizure disorders. Klonopin is also FDA approved as an anxiolytic (anxiety medication) for adults diagnosed with panic disorder. However, Klonopin is often prescribed off-label to treat several other medical conditions in both adults and children including anxiety disorders, Tourette’s syndrome, restless legs syndrome, and insomnia, among others. 

Clonazepam, the active ingredient in Klonopin, belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. These drugs mimic the effects of a neurotransmitter in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and block nerves in the brain from signaling other nerves. The effect is to slow down and calm the central nervous system, helping to prevent seizures, quiet anxiety, and induce sleepiness. 

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Klonopin forms and strengths

Klonopin is available as a tablet in three different dose strengths. However, generic clonazepam is available either in tablet or orally disintegrating tablet formulations.

• Tablets: 0.5 milligrams (mg), 1 mg, 2 mg

Klonopin dosage for adults

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Klonopin for the treatment of seizure disorders and panic disorder. However, Klonopin is used off-label for the treatment of many other medical conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, mania, Tourette syndrome, and sleep disorders. For approved indications, Klonopin is typically taken two to three times daily. However, for some off-label treatments, a healthcare provider may prescribe Klonopin on an as-needed basis or to be taken once per day at bedtime.

Klonopin dosage for seizure disorders

Klonopin is used for the management of a broad range of seizure disorders including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, atonic seizures (sudden loss of muscle strength), myoclonic seizures (brief muscle spasms), petit mal absence seizures (“blanking out”), infantile spasm, and non-convulsive status epilepticus (seizures without convulsions that last longer than five minutes). The medication is started to control seizures. Treatment is typically short-term, ending when seizures are under control or the drug’s side effects become too hard to take.

• Standard Klonopin dosage for seizure disorders: 0.5–5 mg taken orally three times per day

• Maximum Klonopin dosage for seizure disorders: 20 mg per day

Klonopin dosage for panic disorder

Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder in which people experience frequent and uncontrollable periods of intense, overwhelming fear. These “panic attacks” come on suddenly, without warning, and can severely interfere with daily functioning. Klonopin is used only for the short-term treatment of panic disorder because long-term use can lead to physical dependence, drug abuse, and withdrawal symptoms. Healthcare providers typically start treatment when patients are experiencing acute panic attacks. Doses will start low—0.25 mg taken two times per day—and steadily increase by 0.25 mg every one or two days until an effective dose is reached, but the daily dose never exceeds 4 milligrams. 

• Standard Klonopin dosage for panic disorder: 0.5–2 mg taken orally two times per day

• Maximum Klonopin dosage for seizure disorders: 4 mg per day

Klonopin dosage for children

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Klonopin to treat seizure disorders in children of all ages. Some healthcare providers, however, may prescribe Klonopin off-label to children with sleep disorders or Tourette syndrome. For younger children, the dose will be determined by the child’s body weight, and the starting dose will be very low to minimize drowsiness. Usually, each dose is the same. Sometimes, however, the doses will vary, and the strongest dose will be given at night to help minimize drowsiness during the day or improve sleep at night.

Klonopin dosage restrictions

Because of pre-existing physical or medical conditions, some people may not be able to take Klonopin. These conditions are called “contraindications” by healthcare providers. The only people who can’t take Klonopin are people with severe liver disease, acute narrow-angle glaucoma, or who have had an allergic reaction to drugs similar to Klonopin called benzodiazepines, such as Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), or Ativan (lorazepam). 

People of advanced age may be started on a lower dose than younger adults. However, the standard dose and maximum doses are the same.

Although some conditions won’t require dose adjustments, they will require closer monitoring for adverse effects or worsening of the condition. These include kidney impairment, mild to moderate liver impairment, depression, alcohol abuse, sleep apnea, lung disease, and porphyria.

Klonopin dosage for pets

Clonazepam, the active ingredient in Klonopin, is used as a short-term treatment for seizure disorders in dogs and, along with other medications, as a longer-term treatment for epilepsy in cats. It is also sometimes used to treat anxiety in both dogs and cats. The dose amount will be based on body weight, but doses are typically larger for epilepsy than they are for anxiety problems. Doses will be given two or three times per day depending on the veterinarian.

How to take Klonopin

Klonopin is taken as a tablet  one to three times a day with or without food.

• Take this medicine as directed by a healthcare provider. The dose may need to be changed several times, so make sure you understand how much to take.

• This medicine comes with a medication guide. Please read it completely before taking Klonopin.

• Swallow the tablet whole with water.

• Do not stop taking Klonopin suddenly. The sudden discontinuation of Klonopin can cause serious side effects. If the medicine does not seem to be working or side effects are hard to take, talk to a healthcare provider before discontinuing this medication.

• Store Klonopin tablets at room temperature (59°–86°F) in a child-proof, closed container out of the reach of children.

Klonopin dosage FAQs

How long does it take Klonopin to work?

Klonopin starts showing effects about 25 minutes after taking a dose and reaches peak concentration in the blood in about one to four hours. When starting Klonopin, however, these effects will be mild because initial doses are low and are only gradually increased every few days. For seizure disorders, significant improvement in symptoms may not be noticed for several days or even weeks. For panic disorder, the standard dose is reached sooner, so panic attacks should start to abate in a few days.

How long does Klonopin stay in your system?

Klonopin has a half-life of 30–40 hours in healthy patients. That means that it takes the body 30–40 hours to eliminate half the drug from the body. However, Klonopin’s therapeutic effects tend to wear off in eight to 12 hours, so Klonopin is typically taken three times a day. 

What happens if I miss a dose of Klonopin?

A missed dose should be taken when remembered unless it is nearly time to take the next dose. If that’s the case, skip the missed dose and take the next dose as scheduled. Never take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How long can you take Klonopin?

Klonopin is intended for short-term treatment. Taking it for too long a period can lead to physical dependence, drug abuse, and withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, the body builds up a tolerance for the drug, so Klonopin becomes less effective over time, particularly for panic disorder or other mental health conditions. In general, healthcare providers prescribe Klonopin until they’ve determined seizures or panic attacks are under control. 

How do I stop taking Klonopin?

Do not stop taking Klonopin without seeking medical advice first. Because Klonopin can cause physical dependence, suddenly stopping the medicine can produce withdrawal symptoms including sleeplessness, anxiety, irritability, depression, tremors, headache, excessive sweating, confusion, delirium, and hallucinations. If Klonopin has been taken continuously for a long time, withdrawal can even be life-threatening. To help prevent adverse reactions, a healthcare provider will discontinue Klonopin using a gradually tapering dose.

Fortunately, there are other alternatives to Klonopin. For seizures, a wide spectrum of highly effective anticonvulsants can be prescribed. These include carboxamides such as carbamazepine, barbiturates such as phenobarbital, valproates such as valproic acid, hydantoins such as phenytoin, succinimides such as ethosuximide, triazines such as lamotrigine, and many others. 

For panic disorder, healthcare providers can provide long-term treatment with tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Zoloft (sertraline), and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as Effexor (venlafaxine). Beta blockers can also be used as a long-term treatment option.

What is the maximum dosage for Klonopin?

For adults, the maximum daily dose of Klonopin for seizure disorders is 20 milligrams. For panic disorder, the maximum daily dose is 4 milligrams.

Can you overdose on Klonopin?

Klonopin should be taken as prescribed. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Taking too much Klonopin can cause somnolence, confusion, diminished reflexes, muscle weakness, and coma. If too much Klonopin is taken, immediately call a poison helpline and seek emergency medical care. 

What happens when you mix Klonopin and alcohol?

Do not drink alcohol when taking Klonopin. Both are central nervous system depressants and slow down the brain. The combination will increase the sedative effects of Klonopin and could be life-threatening. For the same reason, avoid taking any other kind of CNS depressant when taking Klonopin including opioids or over-the-counter sleep aids.

Is it safe to take Klonopin during pregnancy?

There is no adequate research on how Klonopin affects pregnant women or the babies they’re carrying. So far, there is no evidence that Klonopin will harm a fetus or affect a pregnancy. However, when Klonopin is taken near the end of a pregnancy, infants can be born with a physical dependence on the drug and withdrawal symptoms. Taken too close to delivery, Klonopin can cause sedation, low body temperature, depressed breathing, and poor feeding in the newborn. 

Women who are breastfeeding can be given clonazepam, but they should watch the infant for sedation or trouble breathing. Clonazepam is present in breast milk in very small amounts and is sometimes detectable in an infant’s blood, but this is uncommon. Some nursing infants have been reported to experience common side effects of clonazepam such as drowsiness and slow breathing.

Related resources for Klonopin dosages:

• Clonazepam, Drugs and Lactation Database

• Clonazepam (Klonopin), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

• Clonazepam, StatPearls

• Clonazepam compound summary, U.S. National Library of Medicine

• Alprazolam oral solution prescribing information, U.S. National Library of Medicine

• Anxiety disorders, National Institute of Mental Health

• Clonazepam tablet, orally disintegrating prescribing information, U.S. National Library of Medicine

• Klonopin, Epocrates

• Klonopin prescribing information, U.S. National Library of Medicine