Drug interactions
Clonazepam + Ketamine
Severity: Moderate
Clonazepam and Ketamine: 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
Ketamine combined with a benzodiazepine increases sedation and may add to respiratory depression. Benzodiazepines may also blunt the psychotomimetic emergence reactions of ketamine.
What this interaction means in plain words
Clonazepam and Ketamine 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; Ketamine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression through GABA-A potentiation and NMDA receptor antagonism.
What to do
Monitor sedation depth, respiration and oxygen saturation, particularly during procedural or anaesthetic use. Reduce doses when needed and ensure airway support is available.
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 Ketamine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Clonazepam with Ketamine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Clonazepam and Ketamine 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. Ketamine combined with a benzodiazepine increases sedation and may add to respiratory depression. Benzodiazepines may also blunt the psychotomimetic emergence reactions of ketamine.
How serious is the interaction between Clonazepam and Ketamine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor sedation depth, respiration and oxygen saturation, particularly during procedural or anaesthetic use. Reduce doses when needed and ensure airway support is available.
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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