David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Clonazepam as a therapeutic adjunct to improve the management of depression: a brief review
by Shigeru Mori****a
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental
Volume 24 Issue 3, Pages 191 - 198
Published Online: 27 Mar 2009
Clonazepam (brand names Klonopin or Rivotril), first used for seizure disorders, is now increasingly used to treat [anxiety and] affective disorders. We summarize the use of clonazepam to improve the management of depression. Clonazepam is useful for treatment-resistant and/or protracted depression, as well as for acceleration of response to conventional antidepressants.
Clonazepam is at this time recommended for use in combination with SSRIs (fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline) as an antidepressant, and should be used at a dosage of 2.5-6.0 mg/day. If clonazepam is effective, a response should be observed within 2-4 weeks. It is significantly more effective for unipolar than for bipolar depression.
Low-dose, long-term treatment with clonazepam exhibits a prophylactic effect against recurrence of depression. Although the mechanism of action of clonazepam has not yet been established, some investigators have been suggested that it involves enhancement of anti-anxiety effects, anticonvulsant effects on subclinical epilepsy, increase in 5-HT [Serotonin]/monoamine synthesis or decrease in 5-HT receptor sensitivity mediated through the GABA system, and regulate in GABA activity.
by Shigeru Mori****a
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental
Volume 24 Issue 3, Pages 191 - 198
Published Online: 27 Mar 2009
Clonazepam (brand names Klonopin or Rivotril), first used for seizure disorders, is now increasingly used to treat [anxiety and] affective disorders. We summarize the use of clonazepam to improve the management of depression. Clonazepam is useful for treatment-resistant and/or protracted depression, as well as for acceleration of response to conventional antidepressants.
Clonazepam is at this time recommended for use in combination with SSRIs (fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline) as an antidepressant, and should be used at a dosage of 2.5-6.0 mg/day. If clonazepam is effective, a response should be observed within 2-4 weeks. It is significantly more effective for unipolar than for bipolar depression.
Low-dose, long-term treatment with clonazepam exhibits a prophylactic effect against recurrence of depression. Although the mechanism of action of clonazepam has not yet been established, some investigators have been suggested that it involves enhancement of anti-anxiety effects, anticonvulsant effects on subclinical epilepsy, increase in 5-HT [Serotonin]/monoamine synthesis or decrease in 5-HT receptor sensitivity mediated through the GABA system, and regulate in GABA activity.
