Ataxia clonazepam

Side effects. Because clobazam has been widely used as an anxiolytic, its side effects are well known and essentially similar to those of the other benzodiazepines. Thus sedation, dizziness, ataxia, blurred vision and diplopia are the most commonly reported in epileptic patients. One of the most problematic features of clobazam is its tendency to produce tolerance, an effect which may occur more frequently with clobazam than with the other widely used benzodiazepine, clonazepam. It has been estimated that at least 50% of patients develop tolerance. Tolerance to the sedative effects of the drug develop more rapidly than those to the antiepileptic effect. Clobazam should be considered as adjunctive therapy whenever treatment with a single first-line drug has proven to be ineffective. 

In controlled trials with clonazepam, adverse events were recorded in 60-90% of cases, and led to withdrawal rates as high as 36% (8). The most common effects were drowsiness, ataxia, and behavioral and personality changes. Other problems were hypersalivation, tolerance, and sometimes a paradoxical increase in seizure frequency. 

Clonazepam Commonly known as Klonopin. This medication is used to inhibit seizure activity. Side effects can be mild drowsiness, ataxia, and behavioral disturbances that are manifested as aggression, irritability, and agitation. 

Clonazepam, proprietary name Clonopin, is a benzodiazepine with chemical structure closely related to diazepam. The mechanism of action is the same as described for diazepam, but tolerance does not develop as rapidly as with diazepam. Clonazepam is currently approved for use in absence seizures, infantile spasms, akinetic seizures, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Plasma concentrations associated with maximal effectiveness of the drug range from 15 to 60 ng/mL. At concentrations higher than 80 ng/mL, no additional seizure protection is observed, and toxicity (drowsiness and ataxia) ensues. The most suitable methods adaptable to routine analysis are based on GLC with electron capture detection, although HPLC methods also are effective. ... 

Clonazepam (1.5 mg/day in three divided doses) is used alone or as adjunctive treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (petit mal variance) and akinetic and myoclonic seizures. It may be used in patients with petit mal (absence) seizures who have failed to respond to succinamides. Clonazepam is actually a broad-spectrum anticonvulsant because it is also effective in tonic-clonic (grand mal) and complex partial (psychomotor-temporal lobe) seizures. Clonazepam causes drowsiness (increased by barbiturate administration) and a dose-dependent ataxia, hi addition, behavioral abnormahties such as hypersensitivity, irritability, and aggression may occur, but these are mostly seen in children (see also Figure 50). 

Clonazepam Epilepsy Ataxia, dizziness, slurred speech... 

Clonazepam is well absorbed, 95 to 98% protein bound, and extensively metabolized by CYP3A4. Clonazepam displays a wide spectrum of antiseizure activities and is one of the most potent AEDs. Side effects are common, however, and the development of tolerance is more frequent than with ethosuximide or valproate. Sedation is prominent, especially early in treatment. Drowsiness, ataxia, and behavioral changes may be disabling, but slowly Increasing its dose over a 2-week period Is recommended to minimize adverse effects. Diplopia, headaches, nystagmus, and other neurologic effects have been reported with the use of clonazepam. 

Toxicity (confusion, ataxia, coarse tremor, incoordination, movement disorders, fever) was seen in a patient when lithium was added to fluoxetine treatment, although the serum-lithium levels remained within the therapeutic range. A woman maintained on clonazepam and then started on fluoxetine 20 mg then 40 mg daily, developed tremor and ataxia 6 days af-... 

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