Clorazepate Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Clorazepate Tablet (generic name clorazepate) is a prescription benzodiazepine that calms the central nervous system. It is used to treat anxiety disorders, manage acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and, along with other epilepsy medicines, help control partial seizures. It works by boosting the effect of a natural calming brain chemical called GABA.

What is Clorazepate Tablet

Clorazepate is a prescription benzodiazepine tablet that calms the central nervous system. It is used to treat anxiety disorders, acute alcohol withdrawal, and partial seizures (along with other epilepsy medicines).

Clorazepate Tablet uses

• Treats anxiety disorders
• Helps manage acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms
• Used with other medicines to treat partial seizures in people with epilepsy
• May be used as an adjunct for certain seizure disorders
• May be used in medically supervised alcohol withdrawal
• Helps reduce tension and agitation

Benefits of Clorazepate Tablet

• Helps manage severe or generalized anxiety symptoms
• Acts as an add-on treatment for partial seizures
• Assists in managing acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms
• Provides calming and anxiolytic effects
• May reduce acute anxiety symptoms
• Can support seizure control when used with other antiseizure medicines
• Has a relatively long duration of action

How Clorazepate Tablet works

It works by helping calm down the nervous system. It belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines, which boost the effect of a natural calming chemical in the body called GABA.

Clorazepate Tablet dosage

Take this medicine by mouth exactly as your doctor directs. Do not take it more often or for longer than prescribed. Keep taking it unless your care team tells you to stop; stopping suddenly can be dangerous. If this medicine is used for seizures, keep taking your other seizure medicines unless your doctor says to stop.

You will receive a special Medication Guide with each prescription and refill — read it carefully. Children as young as 9 years may be prescribed this medicine for certain conditions, but special precautions apply; use in younger children is not recommended. People 65 years and older may react more strongly and may need a smaller dose.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but if it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses at once. Do not share this medicine with anyone else.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Clorazepate Tablet

Common

• Drowsiness, fatigue, and heavy sleepiness
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, and unsteadiness
• Dry mouth
• Blurred or double vision
• Upset stomach, nausea, or indigestion
• Confusion or trouble with concentration
• Headache
• Constipation

Serious

• Severe drowsiness, slow or shallow breathing (breathing may stop), or trouble staying awake
• Confusion, paranoia, or unusual thoughts or behavior
• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm, new or worsening depression or anxiety, panic attacks, agitation, or aggression
• Signs of an allergic reaction: hives, rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing
• Bladder pain, bloody or cloudy urine, painful or frequent urination
• Signs of liver problems: nausea or vomiting that doesn't stop, stomach pain, yellowing of skin or eyes, dark urine
• Sore throat or fever that doesn't go away
• Trouble speaking, clumsiness, trouble walking, tremor

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine slows down the brain and nervous system. Taking it with alcohol, opioids, or other sedating medicines can cause severe drowsiness, slowed or stopped breathing, coma, or death. This medicine carries a risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction, which can lead to overdose and death. It is a federally controlled substance.
• Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly. Stopping abruptly after long-term use can cause severe, life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, including seizures, severe anxiety, and hallucinations. Your doctor will usually lower your dose gradually. 
• This medicine can rarely increase the risk of depression, mood changes, or suicidal thoughts, especially after starting treatment or changing the dose. This medicine should not be used in people with narrow-angle glaucoma.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Using this medicine, especially later in pregnancy, may cause withdrawal or sedation problems in your newborn baby. Avoid taking it during the first trimester if possible. If you take it for seizures, do not stop or start it during pregnancy without talking to your doctor, since seizures themselves can be dangerous.
• This medicine passes into breast milk and could affect a nursing baby. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease. This medicine should be used with caution because it may not be removed from the body as quickly, which can increase its effects.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver disease. This medicine should be used with caution because the effects may be stronger if your liver can't clear it as quickly.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine. Combining them can cause dangerous side effects, including severe drowsiness and slowed breathing.
• This medicine can affect your coordination, reaction time, alertness, and vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that requires alertness until you know how the medicine affects you.

Storage

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Keep from freezing.
• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
• Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Protect from light and moisture. Keep the container tightly closed.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have slow or shallow breathing, blue-colored lips, trouble staying awake, or are hard to wake up.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice sudden changes in mood or behavior, new or worse depression or anxiety, agitation, aggression, or thoughts about suicide or self-harm.
• Get medical help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• If you think someone has taken too much of this medicine and has serious symptoms like passing out or trouble breathing, get emergency help right away. Otherwise, contact a poison control center for advice.
• Get medical help right away if you stop taking this medicine and develop withdrawal symptoms such as unusual muscle movements, severe mood or behavior changes, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, or thoughts of suicide.

Alternatives

• Escitalopram
• Sertraline
• Hydroxyzine
• Buspirone