What Causes Dizziness After Discontinuing Clonazepam?

Posted on Thu, 18 Feb 2016

Question: I ran out of Chlonzapan and cannot get refill until after Monday holiday.. Experiencing dizzienss, unsteady walking, don't know if blood pressure is being affected.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Hypotension and withdrawal

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

Clonazepam does not cause the blood pressure to rise. It is a long acting benzodiazepine. If anything it would cause a lowering effect on the blood pressure.

Since you took the BP medication in extra amount, you should go to an ER immediately. Two things need to be checked. 1) Hypotension that may require fluids and hydrocortisone administration. 2) Withdrawal effects which would require clonazepam or some other benzodiazepine to replenish the GABA effect.
Blood sugar and electrolytes can also be checked as part of the basic metabolic panel to rule out other causes.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Let me know if you have any query

Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.

For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below

http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107

Dr. M.S. Khalil

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar