Drug interactions
Clonazepam + Desflurane
Severity: Moderate
Clonazepam and Desflurane: moderate interaction.
Last updated
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
Benzodiazepines reduce the anesthetic requirement and add to the depressant effects of volatile anesthetics, including respiratory and cardiovascular depression and delayed emergence. This is generally anticipated and managed in the perioperative setting.
What this interaction means in plain words
Clonazepam and Desflurane can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Clonazepam belongs to Central Nervous System; Desflurane belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression through GABA-A potentiation by both agents.
What to do
Titrate anesthetic depth to effect, using monitoring such as end-tidal agent concentration or processed EEG, and watch respiration and recovery. Inform the anesthesia team of chronic clonazepam use and continue it perioperatively where appropriate.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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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
Other interactions of Desflurane
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Clonazepam with Desflurane?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Clonazepam and Desflurane can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Benzodiazepines reduce the anesthetic requirement and add to the depressant effects of volatile anesthetics, including respiratory and cardiovascular depression and delayed emergence. This is generally anticipated and managed in the perioperative setting.
How serious is the interaction between Clonazepam and Desflurane?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Titrate anesthetic depth to effect, using monitoring such as end-tidal agent concentration or processed EEG, and watch respiration and recovery. Inform the anesthesia team of chronic clonazepam use and continue it perioperatively where appropriate.
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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