Drug interactions
Butalbital + Clonazepam
Severity: Major
Butalbital and Clonazepam: major interaction.
Last updated Sources: US FDA label
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Butalbital is a barbiturate and combined with clonazepam can cause greater drowsiness, impaired coordination and respiratory depression. Risk rises with higher doses, alcohol or other sedatives.
What this interaction means in plain words
Butalbital and Clonazepam can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Why it happens
Additive GABA-A mediated CNS depression.
What to do
Limit butalbital use to the lowest dose and frequency, and warn about driving and alcohol. Monitor for oversedation and respiratory depression, particularly in older adults.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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References
Other interactions of Clonazepam
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Clonazepam Contraindicated
- Clonazepam + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Clonazepam Major
- Alprazolam + Clonazepam Major
- Amobarbital + Clonazepam Major
- Belladonna and opium + Clonazepam Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Butalbital with Clonazepam?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Butalbital and Clonazepam can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Butalbital is a barbiturate and combined with clonazepam can cause greater drowsiness, impaired coordination and respiratory depression. Risk rises with higher doses, alcohol or other sedatives.
How serious is the interaction between Butalbital and Clonazepam?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Limit butalbital use to the lowest dose and frequency, and warn about driving and alcohol. Monitor for oversedation and respiratory depression, particularly in older adults.
What other medicines interact with Clonazepam?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Clonazepam with, for example, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Sodium oxybate, Alfentanil. The full list is on the Clonazepam page.
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