Drug interactions
Clonazepam + Olanzapine
Severity: Moderate
Clonazepam and Olanzapine: 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
Concurrent use can cause additive sedation, orthostatic hypotension and respiratory depression. Cases of marked sedation and cardiorespiratory depression have been reported when parenteral olanzapine is combined with benzodiazepines.
What this interaction means in plain words
Clonazepam and Olanzapine 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; Olanzapine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression via GABA-A potentiation and olanzapine antagonism at histamine H1 and alpha-1 receptors.
What to do
Avoid giving intramuscular olanzapine close in time to a parenteral benzodiazepine. With oral therapy, monitor sedation and blood pressure, particularly at initiation.
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 Olanzapine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Clonazepam with Olanzapine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Clonazepam and Olanzapine 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. Concurrent use can cause additive sedation, orthostatic hypotension and respiratory depression. Cases of marked sedation and cardiorespiratory depression have been reported when parenteral olanzapine is combined with benzodiazepines.
How serious is the interaction between Clonazepam and Olanzapine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid giving intramuscular olanzapine close in time to a parenteral benzodiazepine. With oral therapy, monitor sedation and blood pressure, particularly at initiation.
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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