Klonopin for Bipolar Treatment

Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder characterized by dramatic mood swings of manic and depression episodes. It affects 2 million people in the United States over the age of 18. Klonopin is a type of benzodiazepines which is used to treat anxiety, panic attacks and sleep difficulties associated with bipolar disorder.

Features

• Klonopin is an orange or blue round pill with the letter "k" in the center of it. The orange pill is the 0.5 mg strength and the blue pill is 1.0 mg in strength.

Side Effects

• Side effects when taking Klonopin include, but are not limited to, dizziness, tiredness, diarrhea and upset stomach. Some severe side effects are chest tightness, pounding heart, thoughts of suicide and hostility. Medical help should be sought if this or other side effects occur.

Warning

• It is not advised to drink alcohol when taking Klonopin. The doctor should be told of all medications one is using while on Klonopin. Women planning to become pregnant need to inform the doctor as Klonopin can cause birth defects.

Dosage

• A doctor will determine the correct dosage for a patient. An average dose will vary between 8 and 10 milligrams a day for an adult.

How to Take

• Klonopin should be taken as prescribed by a doctor. If a dose is missed, one should take it immediately. However, if it is close in time for the next dose it is not advisable to take the missed dose. One should not stop using Klonopin without speaking to a doctor.