Rivotril (Clonazepam) 2mg

GENERIC NAME: Rivotril (Clonazepam) 2mg

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Rivotril (Clonazepam) 2mg is an anti-anxiety medication in the benzodiazepine family, the same family that includes diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), flurazepam (Dalmane), and others. Clonazepam and other benzodiazepines act by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter (a chemical that nerve cells use to communicate with each other) that inhibits brain activity. It is believed that excessive activity in the brain may lead to anxiety or other psychiatric disorders. Clonazepam is primarily used for treating panic disorder and preventing certain types of seizures. The FDA approved clonazepam in June 1975.

PREPARATIONS: Tablets: 0.5, 1, and 2 mg; disintegrating tablets: 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg.

STORAGE: Tablets should be kept at room temperature, between 15 C and 30 C (59 F and 86 F).

PRESCRIBED FOR :Rivotril (Clonazepam) 2mg is used for the short-term relief of symptoms of anxiety. It is used for certain types of seizures, specifically petit mal seizures, akinetic seizures, and myoclonus, as well as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Seizure Disorders

Rivotril (Clonazepam) is useful alone or as an adjunct in the treatment of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (petit mal variant), akinetic and myoclonic seizures. In patients with absence seizures (petit mal) who have failed to respond to succinimides, Rivotril (Clonazepam) may be useful.

In some studies, up to 30% of patients have shown a loss of anticonvulsant activity, often within 3 months of administration. In some cases, dosage adjustment may reestablish efficacy.

Panic Disorder

Rivotril (Clonazepam) is indicated for the treatment of panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, as defined in DSM-IV. Panic disorder is characterized by the occurrence of unexpected panic attacks and associated concern about having additional attacks, worry about the implications or consequences of the attacks, and/or a significant change in behavior related to the attacks.

The efficacy of Rivotril (Clonazepam) was established in two 6- to 9-week trials in panic disorder patients whose diagnoses corresponded to the DSM-IIIR category of panic disorder (see: Clinical Trials).

Panic disorder (DSM-IV) is characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks, ie, a discrete period of intense fear or discomfort in which four (or more) of the following symptoms develop abruptly and reach a peak within 10 minutes:

(1) palpitations, pounding heart or accelerated heart rate;

(2) sweating;

(3) trembling or shaking;

(4) sensations of shortness of breath or smothering;

(5) feeling of choking;

(6) chest pain or discomfort;

(7) nausea or abdominal distress;

(8) feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded or faint;

(9) derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself);

(10) fear of losing control;

(11) fear of dying;

(12) paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations);

(13) chills or hot flushes.

The effectiveness of Rivotril (Clonazepam) in long-term use, that is, for more than 9 weeks, has not been systematically studied in controlled clinical trials. The physician who elects to use Rivotril (Clonazepam) for extended periods should periodically reevaluate the long-term usefulness of the drug for the individual patient