Informational only — Not medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider.

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Community data Updated 2 months ago
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Indications

Epilepsy Depression Anxiety

Acute and chronic anxiety states, which may in particular produce the following symptoms: anxiety, tension, restlessness, excitement, irritability, sleep disturbances of emotional origin, and psychovegetative and psychosomatic disorders (for example, in the cardiovascular or gastrointestinal area), as well as emotional instability. In patients with depression or with anxiety associated with depression, Colax must be used only alongside adequate concomitant treatment, since the use of benzodiazepines alone can precipitate suicide in such patients. Before treating anxiety states associated with emotional instability, it must first be determined whether the patient has a depressive disorder requiring adjunctive or different treatment. In patients with schizophrenic or other psychotic illnesses, benzodiazepines are recommended only as adjunctive treatment, not as primary treatment. It is also used as adjunctive therapy in patients with epilepsy who are not adequately stabilized on their anticonvulsant monotherapy.

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

Clobazam binds at distinct binding sites associated with the chloride ionopore at the post-synaptic GABA receptor. These GABA receptors are in various locations in the CNS (limbic, reticular formation) and clobazam increases the duration of time for which the chloride ionopore is open. As a result, hyper polarization and stabilization of the membrane occur as the post-synaptic inhibitory effect of GABA is enhanced.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy: Clobazam is not recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy and in women of childbearing potential not using contraception. Clobazam should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Animal studies have demonstrated reproductive toxicity. Clobazam crosses the placenta. In the post-marketing safety database, limited data on exposed pregnancies are available with clobazam. A large amount of data collected from cohort studies has not demonstrated evidence of the occurrence of malformations following exposure to benzodiazepines during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, in certain epidemiological case-control studies, an increased incidence of cleft lip and palate was observed with benzodiazepines. Cases of reduced fetal movement and fetal heart rate variability have been described after administration of benzodiazepines during the second and/or third trimester of pregnancy. Administration of clobazam during the late phase of pregnancy or during childbirth can result in the occurrence of neonatal respiratory depression (including respiratory distress and apnea), which may be associated with other disorders such as sedation signs, hypothermia, hypotonia, and feeding difficulties (which may result in poor weight gain) in the newborn (signs and symptoms of the so-called "floppy infant syndrome"). Moreover, infants born to mothers who have taken benzodiazepines over longer periods during the later stages of pregnancy may have developed physical dependence and may be at risk of developing a withdrawal syndrome in the postnatal period. Appropriate monitoring of the newborn in the postnatal period is recommended. Women of childbearing potential should be informed of the risks and benefits of the use of Clobazam during pregnancy. If a woman plans a pregnancy or becomes pregnant, carefully evaluate the risks and benefits and whether treatment with Clobazam should be discontinued. If Clobazam treatment is to be continued, use Clobazam at the lowest effective dose.Lactation: Clobazam must not be used in breastfeeding women, since clobazam passes into breast milk.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Dosage Reference

⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.

Adults: General dosage guidance: The dose and length of treatment should be tailored to the condition being treated, how severe it is, and how the individual patient responds. Because clobazam can affect alertness and reaction time, the guiding rule is to use the lowest dose that works. For treating anxiety in adults and adolescents over 15 years: the usual starting dose is 20 mg of clobazam a day. This can be increased if needed, but the total daily dose should generally not go above 30 mg. For elderly patients: older adults may respond more strongly to the medicine and are more prone to side effects, so treatment should start with a low dose and be increased gradually while the patient is monitored closely. A maintenance dose of 10 to 15 mg a day is often enough. For children aged 3 to 15 years: children, too, may respond more strongly and are more prone to side effects, so treatment should begin with a low dose and be increased gradually under close observation. A daily dose of 5 to 10 mg is often enough. Benzodiazepines should only be given to children after the need for them has been carefully assessed. Secondary dosage adjustment: once symptoms improve, the dose may be lowered. Timing of doses: when the daily dose is split into more than one portion, the larger portion should be taken in the evening. Duration of treatment: treatment should be kept as short as possible. The patient should be reviewed within 4 weeks of starting and at regular intervals afterward to check whether treatment is still needed, particularly once symptoms have resolved. In general, the total treatment period, including the time taken to taper off the dose, should not exceed 8 to 12 weeks. In some cases treatment may need to continue beyond this, but only after the patient's condition has been reassessed by someone with the appropriate expertise. Long, uninterrupted courses of treatment are best avoided, since they can lead to dependence. Discontinuation of treatment: after extended use, clobazam should not be stopped abruptly. The dose should instead be lowered gradually under medical supervision, since stopping suddenly can bring on withdrawal symptoms. For treating epilepsy alongside one or more other anticonvulsant medicines, in adults and adolescents over 15 years: treatment is usually started at a low dose of 5 to 15 mg a day, and if needed this can be increased step by step up to a maximum of about 80 mg a day. For children aged 3 to 15 years: treatment normally begins at 5 mg a day. A maintenance dose of 0.3 to 1.0 mg per kilogram of body weight per day is usually sufficient. Children may be more prone to side effects, so the dose should be increased gradually under close observation, and benzodiazepines should only be used in children after careful assessment of the need for them. For elderly patients: because older adults may be more prone to side effects, treatment should start with a low dose and be increased gradually under close observation. Timing of doses: when the daily dose is divided across the day, the larger portion should be taken in the evening. Doses of up to 30 mg can also be given as a single dose in the evening. Duration of treatment: the patient should be reviewed within 4 weeks of starting and at regular intervals afterward to assess whether treatment should continue. Discontinuation of treatment: at the end of treatment, including in cases where it has not worked well, clobazam should not be stopped abruptly. The dose should be reduced gradually, since sudden withdrawal can increase the risk of seizures as well as other withdrawal symptoms.

Side Effects & Interactions

Side Effects

No side-effect data recorded yet.