Clonazepam, being a powerful benzodiazepine needs careful dosing. Clonazepam overdose may be extremely dangerous.
The dose of clonazepam is tailored to the patient’s needs. We will show you some examples and general guidance principles of Clonazepam dosage.

As of general principle, your Clonazepam dosage may vary on:
- The medical condition being treated
- Your age
- Other medications you may be taking
- Other medical conditions you may have.

Some considerations for people taking clonazepam include the following:

- Clonazepam comes in tablets and wafers (orally disintegrating tablets). Clonazepam is taken by mouth, usually two or three times daily.
- Clonazepam wafers will rapidly dissolve in your mouth, without any need for water. These wafers are especially useful for children who have difficulty swallowing tablets.
- Clonazepam can be taken with or without food. If clonazepam bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.

Generally, the recommended starting clonazepam dosage for treating adults with seizures is 0.5 mg three times a day. For treating panic disorder, the starting clonazepam dosing is typically 0.25 mg twice daily. Your age, other medical conditions you have, and other medications you are taking can affect the clonazepam dose your healthcare provider prescribes.

Some specialists recommend that, for seizures in adults the initial dose to be 1.5 mg daily in 3 divided doses. Dosage may be increased by 0.5 to 1 mg daily every 3 days until seizures are controlled or side effects preclude further increases in dose. The maximum dose is 20 mg daily. The initial dose for panic disorders is 0.25 mg twice daily. The dose may be increased to the target dose of 1 mg daily after 3 days.

Here is an example of common Clonazepam dosages by indication:

Absence Epilepsy:
1 tablet (0.5 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
2 tablets (1 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
1 tablet (1 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
2 tablets (2 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
1 tablet (2 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
2 tablets (4 mg) by oral route 3 times per day

Atonic Seizures:
1 tablet (0.5 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
2 tablets (1 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
1 tablet (1 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
2 tablets (2 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
1 tablet (2 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
2 tablets (4 mg) by oral route 3 times per day

Lennox-Gastaut Epilepsy    :
1 tablet (0.5 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
2 tablets (1 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
1 tablet (1 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
2 tablets (2 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
1 tablet (2 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
2 tablets (4 mg) by oral route 3 times per day

Myoclonic Epilepsy:
1 tablet (0.5 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
2 tablets (1 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
1 tablet (1 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
2 tablets (2 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
1 tablet (2 mg) by oral route 3 times per day
2 tablets (4 mg) by oral route 3 times per day

Panic Disorder:
1 tablet (0.5 mg) by oral route 2 times per day
2 tablets (1 mg) by oral route 2 times per day
1 tablet (1 mg) by oral route 2 times per day
2 tablets (2 mg) by oral route 2 times per day
1 tablet (2 mg) by oral route 2 times per day

Do not exceed the recommended dosage or take this medicine for longer than prescribed. Exceeding the recommended dose or taking this medicine for longer than prescribed may be habit forming.

* Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor.
* Store this medicine at room temperature, away from heat and light.
* Take this medicine everyday at evenly spaced intervals.
* If you miss a dose of this medicine and you are using it regularly, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
* This medicine may be taken with food if it upsets your stomach.

Clonazepam overdose

Clonazepam overdose symptoms may vary. Like those produced by other CNS depressants, they include somnolence, confusion, drowsiness, coma and diminished reflexes.

Life-threatening overdose symptoms are more likely if clonazepam is combined with alcohol or other medications.

If you or someone you know may have used more than the recommended dose of this medicine, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.

The treatment for a clonazepam overdose will vary.

Treatment includes monitoring of respiration, pulse and blood pressure, general supportive measures and immediate gastric lavage. Intravenous fluids should be administered and an adequate airway maintained. Hypotension may be combated by the use of levarterenol or metaraminol. Methylphenidate or caffeine and sodium benzoate may be given to combat CNS depression. Dialysis is of no known value.
If the clonazepam overdose was recent, the healthcare provider may use certain medicines or place a tube into the stomach to “pump the stomach.” Flumazenil (Romazicon®), an antidote for a benzodiazepine overdose, may also be helpful (although this treatment can be dangerous in people taking clonazepam for seizures). Treatment also involves supportive care, which consists of treating the symptoms that occur as a result of the overdose. For example, supportive treatment options may include:
* Fluids through an intravenous line (IV)
* Careful monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing
* Other treatments based on the complications that occur.

We put emphasis on the fact that it is important that you seek medical attention immediately if you believe that you may have overdosed on clonazepam.