Clonazepam is used alone or in combination with other drugs to treat seizure disorders and panic disorders. Clonazepam belongs to a classification of medications known as benzodiazepines, which have a variety of unwanted side effects. As with all benzodiazepines, if you experience these side effects, it's important not to stop taking the drug on your own; talk to your health care provider first.
Dependence and Tolerance
Clonazepam produces both physical and psychological dependence in the body. Because the body becomes dependent upon the medication, if for instance you are taking clonazepam to prevent seizures, you will experience a greater number of seizures if you reduce or stop the medication suddenly. These seizures can also be more severe than the ones you originally experienced before taking clonazepam.
Tolerance to clonazepam can also develop. This means that over time, you need more of the drug to get the effect. According to the Epilepsy Therapy Project, if tolerance develops, you may be tempted to increase the dosage of clonazepam. However, dosage increases will also increase the likelihood that you will experience a greater number of side effects, and you should only increase your dosage if your doctor recommends it.
Psychomotor Side Effects
According to American Academy of Family Physicians, clonazepam can cause drowsiness, poor concentration, motor uncoordination, muscle weakness, dizziness and mental confusion. These effects are more pronounced with the first dose of the medication or when your physician prescribes a sudden dose increase to treat your symptoms. Clonazepam will also slow your reaction time and impair your driving skills. These side effects are more evident if you are elderly or have a greater susceptibility of central nervous system depression.
Depression
According to Mayo Clinic physicians, feeling sad, even to the point of developing clinical depression, can be a side effect of long-term use. You should not change your medication or stop taking it on your own, but if you are concerned that clonazepam is causing your depressive symptoms, discuss your options with your physician.
Behavioral Changes
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, you may experience paradoxical disinhibition. This is the medical terminology used to describe behavioral changes that are opposite of what would be expected with the medication. These behaviors include increased excitement, irritability, aggression, hostility and impulsivity. In rare cases, these behaviors may include rage, violence or other antisocial behaviors. These reactions occur more frequently in children, the elderly and in those who have developmental disabilities.
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