Drug interactions
Clonazepam + Kava
Severity: Moderate
Clonazepam and Kava: 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
Kava has sedative and anxiolytic properties and may add to the CNS depression produced by clonazepam. Excess drowsiness and impaired alertness may result, and kava has also been linked to liver toxicity.
What this interaction means in plain words
Clonazepam and Kava 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.
Why it happens
Additive GABAergic CNS depression from kavalactones and the benzodiazepine.
What to do
Advise patients to avoid kava while taking clonazepam, or monitor for oversedation if it is used. Check liver function if kava use continues.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Clonazepam and Kava, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
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 Clonazepam with Kava?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Clonazepam and Kava 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. Kava has sedative and anxiolytic properties and may add to the CNS depression produced by clonazepam. Excess drowsiness and impaired alertness may result, and kava has also been linked to liver toxicity.
How serious is the interaction between Clonazepam and Kava?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise patients to avoid kava while taking clonazepam, or monitor for oversedation if it is used. Check liver function if kava use continues.
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.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
