Ativan vs. Klonopin

Are Ativan and Klonopin the Same Thing?

Ativan (lorazepam) and Klonopin (clonazepam) are benzodiazepines used for the management of anxiety disorders. Ativan is also prescribed to treat insomnia, panic attacks, and alcohol withdrawal, while Klonopin is also used for seizure disorders.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Ativan?

Common side effects of Ativan include:

  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Tiredness
  • Muscle weakness
  • Headache
  • Blurred vision
  • Sleep problems (insomnia)
  • Loss of balance or coordination
  • Forgetfulness or amnesia
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Changes in appetite
  • Skin rash

What Are Possible Side Effects of Klonopin?

Common side effects of Klonopin include:

  • drowsiness,
  • dizziness,
  • weakness,
  • unsteadiness,
  • depression,
  • loss of orientation,
  • headache,
  • sleep disturbances,
  • problems with thinking or memory,
  • slurred speech,
  • dry mouth,
  • sore gums,
  • runny nose,
  • loss of appetite,
  • diarrhea,
  • constipation, and
  • blurred vision.

Both Ativan and Klonopin may interact with alcohol, cold or allergy medicines, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicine for seizures, anti-anxiety medications, barbiturates, MAO inhibitors, medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, or antidepressants.

What is Ativan?

Ativan (lorazepam) is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety or anxiety associated with depressive symptoms.

What is Klonopin?

Klonopin is a prescription medicine used to treat epilepsy. It is also used to treat panic attacks.

What Drugs Interact With Ativan?

Benzodiazepines like Ativan produce increased CNS (central nervous system) depressant effects when administered with other CNS depressants such as alcohol, barbiturates, antipsychotics, sedative/hypnotics, anxiolytics, antidepressants, narcotic analgesics, sedative antihistamines, anticonvulsants, and anesthetics.

What Drugs Interact With Klonopin?

The CNS-depressant action of the benzodiazepine class of drugs (including Klonopin) may be potentiated by alcohol, narcotics, barbiturates, nonbarbiturate hypnotics, antianxiety agents, the phenothiazines, thioxanthene and butyrophenone classes of antipsychotic agents, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and the tricyclic antidepressants, and by other anticonvulsant drugs.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking KLONOPIN with certain other medicines can cause side effects or affect how well they work. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How Should Ativan Be Taken?

Ativan can be taken with or without food. Ativan tablets should be swallowed with water.

How Should Klonopin Be Taken?

  • Take Klonopin exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Klonopin is available as a tablet.
  • Do not stop taking Klonopin without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping Klonopin suddenly can cause serious problems.
  • Klonopin tablets should be taken with water and swallowed whole.
  • If you take too much Klonopin, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center right away.

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References

FDA. Ativan Drug Information.
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/017794s044lbl.pdf
FDA. Klonopin Drug Information.
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/017533s053,020813s009lbl.pdf

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