What you need to know about the anxiety medication Clorazepate (Clorazepate)

Has your doctor prescribed you a medicine called Clorazepate? Or is a family member or friend using this medicine? You may feel a little scared when you hear this name. But once you know the details, that fear disappears. Simply put, Clorazepate is a medicine that belongs to the benzodiazepine class of drugs that helps control conditions like anxiety. Today, we will talk about this medicine and the things to be careful about when using it, everything very simply.

Things you need to tell your doctor before starting medication

Before prescribing this medicine to you, it is very important that your doctor knows about your complete health condition. Because, using this medicine may not be very good with some medical conditions. Therefore, if you have any of the conditions below, be sure to tell your doctor about it.

• Mental health problems: If you have had or currently have depression, bipolar disorder, or another mental illness.
• A history of addiction: If you have ever had or currently have an addiction to alcohol or other drugs.
• A condition where there is increased pressure in the eye: a condition like glaucoma.
• Liver or kidney disease: If there is any weakness in the functioning of these organs.
• Respiratory problems: If you have lung disease or breathing problems.
• Other medical conditions: Nervous system diseases such as myasthenia gravis and Parkinson's disease.
• Epilepsy or seizures: If you have had seizures before or have epilepsy.
• Suicidal thoughts: If you have had such bad thoughts before.
• Allergies: If you have an allergy to Clorazepate or any other benzodiazepine, any other medication, food, or preservative.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding: If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding, it is essential to tell your doctor.

How exactly do I use this medicine?

The method of using this medicine is very simple, but very important.

• Swallow this pill with a glass of water.
• Take the prescribed dose, at the prescribed time, as prescribed by your doctor. Never take more than the prescribed amount.
• If you have been using this medication for a while, it is best not to stop it suddenly. Doing so can cause severe withdrawal effects. This can be very difficult for your body. If you need to stop taking the medication, do so only under the advice of your doctor, and only by gradually reducing the dosage.

What to do if you overdose?

If you think you have taken more medicine than you think, don't panic. The first thing to do is go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) . Alternatively, you can call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.

What if I miss a dose of medication?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take a double dose.

Can this interact with other medications?

Yes, definitely. We call interactions when one medicine we take affects the action of another medicine. Clorazepate can also interact with some medications.

• You should avoid taking this medicine with some antifungal medications, such as itraconazole .
• Also, tell your doctor if you are taking the following medications:
• Medications for depression or other mental illnesses.
• A strong painkiller prescribed by a doctor.
• Some medications used for seizures (e.g. carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin).

This list is not complete. Therefore, it is important for your own safety to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking (including vitamins, herbal products, and herbal supplements) . It is also important to tell your doctor if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use other drugs.

What should I be careful about when taking the medicine?

• Drowsiness and dizziness: This medicine may make you feel drowsy or dizzy. Therefore, avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. To reduce the risk of dizziness and falls, especially if you are elderly, avoid standing up suddenly or getting up from a sitting position.
• Avoid alcohol: Avoid drinking alcohol completely while taking this medication. Alcohol can make drowsiness and dizziness worse.
• Taking medication for other illnesses: Before you buy medicine from the pharmacy for things like coughs, colds, and allergies, ask your doctor. Because some ingredients in some medications can increase the side effects of these medications.
• Be aware of your mental state: This is very important. Some people may experience changes in their mental state, especially suicidal thoughts, while taking this medicine. If you have these thoughts, or if you feel sad or angry, this is not normal. Tell your doctor or someone you trust right away.
• Drug addiction: Over time, your body can become dependent on the drug. This means you may not be able to live without it. This is why you should always talk to your doctor to decide if you still need the drug.

What side effects might I experience?

Like any medicine, Clorazepate can cause side effects. Some of them are serious, while others are common. It is important to be aware of these.

If you experience any other unusual symptoms not mentioned in this list, talk to your doctor about them as well.

How do you keep your medicine safe?

• Keep out of reach of children: This is very important. If this medicine gets into the hands of a child, it can cause serious poisoning.
• Keep it in a safe place: Since this medicine has the potential to be addictive, some people may abuse it. Therefore, keep it in a safe place where it cannot be stolen.
• Discard after expiration: Check the expiration date and do not use any medicine that has passed its expiration date.
• Dispose of properly: Mix unused medication with something like cat litter or ground coffee grounds and throw it away in a tightly sealed container, such as a coffee can. This way, it won't accidentally be ingested by someone else, a child, or an animal.

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