Before taking clorazepate,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to clorazepate; other benzodiazepines such as alprazolam ( Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium, in Librax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Diastat, Valium), estazolam, flurazepam, lorazepam (Ativan), oxazepam, temazepam (Restoril), or triazolam (Halcion); any other medications; or any of the ingredients in clorazepate tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: barbiturates such as phenobarbital and secobarbital (Seconal); chlorpromazine; cimetidine (Tagamet); disulfiram (Antabuse); levodopa (in Ritary, in Sinemet, in Stalevo); or monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), linezolid (Zyvox), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate); medications for depression, nausea, mental illness, and seizures; sedatives; sleeping pills; and tranquilizers.Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had glaucoma. Your doctor may tell you not to take clorazepate.
tell your doctor if you use or have ever used street drugs or have overused prescription medications and if you have or have ever had depression or liver or kidney disease.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking clorazepate, call your doctor.
talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking clorazepate if you are 65 years of age or older. Older adults should not usually take clorazepate because it is not as safe or effective as other medications that can be used to treat the same condition.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking clorazepate.
you should know that this medication may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
tell your doctor if you use tobacco products. Cigarette smoking may decrease the effectiveness of this medication.
you should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways, and you may become suicidal (thinking about harming or killing yourself or planning or trying to do so) while you are taking clorazepate for the treatment of epilepsy, mental illness, or other conditions A small number of adults and children 5 years of age and older (about 1 in 500 people) who took anticonvulsants such as clorazepate to treat various conditions during clinical studies became suicidal during their treatment. Some of these people developed suicidal thoughts and behavior as early as one week after they started taking the medication. There is a risk that you may experience changes in your mental health if you take an anticonvulsant medication such as clorazepate, but there may also be a risk that you will experience changes in your mental health if your condition is not treated. You and your doctor will decide whether the risks of taking an anticonvulsant medication are greater than the risks of not taking the medication. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: panic attacks; agitation or restlessness; new or worsening irritability, anxiety, or depression; acting on dangerous impulses; difficulty falling or staying asleep; aggressive, angry, or violent behavior; mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood), talking or thinking about wanting to hurt yourself or end your life, withdrawing from friends and family; preoccupation with death and dying, giving away prized possessions, or any other unusual changes in behavior or mood. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.