Clobazam, Oral cloh-BAZ-am

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antianxiety; anxiolytic; benzodiazepine; antiseizure

Generic and brand names: clobazam, oral; Onfi

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat seizures caused by a severe form of epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. This medicine is taken along with other medicines.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• breathing problems such as asthma or COPD
• depression, thoughts of suicide, or other mental illness
• glaucoma
• liver or kidney disease
• myasthenia gravis
• sleep apnea (stopping breathing during sleep and then gasping for air)
• problems with drug or alcohol abuse

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. This medicine may make hormonal birth control less effective. You should use non-hormonal birth control method while you are taking this medicine and for a month after stopping it. Talk with your healthcare provider about effective birth control methods. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I use it?

Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more of it or take it longer than prescribed because it may be habit-forming.

Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. You may have to reduce your dosage gradually. Stopping too quickly may cause withdrawal symptoms, which may include seizures.

You can take this medicine with or without food. You may swallow the tablets whole, or crush the tablets and mix in applesauce.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, fainting, trouble breathing, trouble walking, coma.

What should I watch out for?

Antiseizure medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some people. Call your healthcare provider right away if you or your family notice changes in your thoughts or behavior, such as:

• more outgoing or aggressive behavior than normal
• new or worsening anxiety or irritability
• restlessness
• panic attacks
• new or worsening depression or thoughts of suicide.

Your healthcare provider will check your progress regularly and adjust your dosage. You will need regular blood tests to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments.

This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine. Do not take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

This medicine may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery until you are fully alert and can see clearly.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

This medicine is a controlled substance and may be habit forming. Do not give it to anyone else.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away). If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Irregular or fast heartbeat, trouble breathing, severe rash, fainting or lightheadedness, severe dizziness, hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren't there) or severe confusion, unusual mood or behavior changes, unusual restlessness or nervousness, depression, thoughts of suicide, blisters or peeling skin, blurred vision, slurred speech, problems with balance, seizures, severe drowsiness or tiredness, painful urination.

Other: Drowsiness, trouble sleeping, dizziness, tiredness, itching, constipation, headache, nausea, fever, cough, drooling.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• abiraterone (Zytiga)
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Erythrocin, EES, EryPed), isoniazid, rifampin (Rifampin), rifabutin (Mycobutin), and telithromycin (Ketek)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine, bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox CR), imipramine (Tofranil), nefazodone, nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), protriptyline (Vivactil), sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone, and trimipramine (Surmontil)
• antifungal medicines such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and miconazole (Monistat, Micatin)
• antihistamines and allergy medicines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), hydroxyzine (Vistaril), and loratadine (Alavert)
• antinausea medicines such as prochlorperazine and promethazine (Phenergan)
• antipsychotic medicines such as chlorpromazine, clozapine (Clozaril), fluphenazine, haloperidol (Haldol), loxapine (Loxitane), olanzapine (Zyprexa), perphenazine, pimozide (Orap), risperidone (Risperdal), thioridazine, and trifluoperazine
• aprepitant (Emend)
• barbiturates such as butabarbital (Butisol), pentobarbital (Nembutal), and phenobarbital
• beta blockers such as carvedilol (Coreg), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), and propranolol (Inderal LA)
• bortezomib (Velcade)
• bronchodilators such as aminophylline and theophylline
• dextromethorphan, an ingredient in many cough and cold medicines such as Robitussin-DM
• gemfibrozil (Lopid)
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), digoxin (Lanoxin), diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia), nicardipine (Cardene, Cardene SR), flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), procainamide, quinidine, and verapamil (Calan)
• hormonal birth control pills, patches, rings, or injections
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor within 14 days of each other.)
• medicines to block stomach acid such as cimetidine (Tagamet), dexlansoprazole (Kapidex), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (Aciphex)
• medicines to treat HIV such as delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), etravirine (Intelence), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra), and saquinavir (Invirase)
• muscle relaxants such as baclofen (Lioresal), carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), dantrolene (Dantrium), methocarbamol (Robaxin), and tizanidine (Zanaflex)
• natural remedies such as gotu kola, kava, St. John's wort, and valerian
• other antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), gabapentin (Neurontin), phenytoin (Dilantin), primidone (Mysoline), tiagabine (Gabitril), and topiramate (Topamax)
• other benzodiazepines such as chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and triazolam (Halcion)
• pain medicines such as codeine, fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), methadone (Methadose, Dolophine), morphine (MS Contin, Kadian), oxycodone (OxyContin), tramadol (Ultram), and combination products such as Vicodin, Tylox, Percocet, Percodan, and Tylenol #3
• sleeping pills such as eszopiclone (Lunesta), zaleplon (Sonata), and zolpidem (Ambien)
• stimulants such as armodafinil (Nuvigil) and modafinil (Provigil)
• ticlopidine

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.