What are the long-term effects of clonazepam?
Clonazepam is one of a group of anti-anxiety medications called benzodiazepines. That class of drugs has been in use for almost 50 years. Clonazepam itself has been on the market since about 1975. Benzodiazepines are comparatively safe drugs. Some people do take them “long-term” – and they can be quite useful. For the most part, side effects are mild. At lower doses, the most common problem is drowsiness or fatigue. At higher doses, clonazepam can cause confusion, memory problems or trouble with walking – all of these are a bigger problem for older people. Doses should be adjusted with these effects in mind. Also, do not drive or operate machinery if you feel sedated. With long-term treatment, a person can develop physical dependency and even withdrawal symptoms after stopping clonazepam suddenly. This is a real risk, but any danger or discomfort can be avoided by maintaining the dosage. A concern for people taking benzodiazepines is addiction. Addiction, however, is different from phy
