Is Clonazepam an Antipsychotic?

The brand-name drug known as Klonopin comes under the generic name Clonazepam, which is an oral tablet. It is a prescription drug available as an oral as well as an orally disintegrating tablet. It is a controlled substance which can be addictive. Primarily, Clonazepam is used to treat panic and anxiety disorders. It contains anti-convulsant properties, as well. Clonazepam can be part of combination therapy, a rare anti-anxiety medication property.

Clonazepam belongs to a class of drugs commonly referred to as benzodiazepines. Various well-known drugs belong to this class, such as Xanax. Simply put, a class of drugs is a group of medications that work similarly. These drugs are often interchangeable and can be used to treat similar conditions. Clonazepam works by boosting the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is a chemical that sends signals throughout a person's entire nervous system. However, when a person does not contain enough GABA in their body, their body may be in jeopardy. The human body, due to the decreased amount of GABA, remains in an excited state. This can cause the body to go into overdrive, which can cause panic or anxiety attacks as well as seizures. But, when an individual takes Clonazepam, the GABA in their body increases which, in return, decreases the number of panic attacks and seizures. This stabilizes the body.

Can Clonazepam be used as an antipsychotic?

As of right now, Clonazepam has not been prescribed for antipsychotic purposes. Although there are studies suggesting that Clonazepam contains antipsychotic purposes, there is simply not enough evidence that can support the claim that the drug is helpful for such purposes. In addition to this, there are not sufficiently documented trials regarding this issue.

Note that Clonazepam is categorized as an anxiolytic instead of an antipsychotic. Although, these categories are moderately arbitrary. Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine. This particular class is often considered an anxiolytic group of medications. Doctors prescribe benzodiazepines for acute or chronic anxiety, panic attacks, and other anxiety-related experiences. However, they are also used for a wide variety of things, varying from insomnia to seizures to attempting to counteract the side effects of other drugs, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, or alcohol.

Clonazepam is not supposed to be a cover-all drug. However, it is vital to avoid the long-term use of Clonazepam as it is inherently irresponsible. Most doctors prescribe the medication as primarily short-term or emergency treatment rather than as a 'maintenance' drug.

Other Options

Clozapine (Clozaril) is an antipsychotic. Clonazepam is simply not. Clozapine may seem similar to Clonazepam, as both are prescribed for treating the same conditions; however, they have fundamentally different molecular structures. The main difference is that antipsychotics are far more likely to be prescribed for disorders similar to schizophrenia, while drugs like Clonazepam are not. However, antipsychotics can be combined with Clonazepam, as antipsychotics commonly cause sleep problems and anxiety, and the drug mentioned earlier can help combat that.