Skip to content

Drug interactions

Clonazepam + Rifampin

Severity: Moderate

Clonazepam and Rifampin: 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

Rifampin induces hepatic enzymes and can reduce clonazepam concentrations, potentially weakening seizure or anxiety control. The effect develops over days to weeks and reverses after rifampin is stopped.

What this interaction means in plain words

Clonazepam and Rifampin 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.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

Rifampin induction of CYP3A4 increases clonazepam metabolism.

What to do

Monitor clinical response and increase clonazepam dose if efficacy falls. Reduce the dose again if rifampin is discontinued to avoid excess sedation.

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?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

Pro+ members

Unlock the full page

Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Clonazepam and Rifampin, 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.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Clonazepam with Rifampin?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Clonazepam and Rifampin 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. Rifampin induces hepatic enzymes and can reduce clonazepam concentrations, potentially weakening seizure or anxiety control. The effect develops over days to weeks and reverses after rifampin is stopped.

How serious is the interaction between Clonazepam and Rifampin?

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 clinical response and increase clonazepam dose if efficacy falls. Reduce the dose again if rifampin is discontinued to avoid excess sedation.

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.

Browse A–Z · Drug interactions

Get the app Sign in