Description
Clonazepam (trade name Klonopin or Rivotril) is a long-acting psychoactive substance of the benzodiazepine class which produces anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant, amnesic, sedative, depressant and hypnotic effects. It is commonly used and FDA approved for the medical treatment of panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD).
Clonazepam has an elimination half-life of 18 to 50 hours, and is generally considered to be a long-acting benzodiazepine. Clonazepam has an intermediate onset of action, with a peak blood level occurring one to four hours after oral administration.
Benzodiazepines produce a variety of effects by binding to the benzodiazepine receptor site and magnifying the efficiency and effects of the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) by acting on its receptors. As this site is the most prolific inhibitory receptor set within the brain, its modulation results in the sedating (or calming effects) of clonazepam on the nervous system.
