Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsKlonopin vs. ValiumWhat Is Klonopin?What Is Valium?Risks of Each
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Klonopin vs. Valium
What Is Klonopin?
What Is Valium?
Risks of Each
If you have been prescribed Klonopin (clonazepam) or Valium (diazepam), you might wonder how they compare. Both medications belong to the same drug class, benzodiazepines. Both are used for anxiety and seizures, among other conditions, but they are not the same.You may be curious about how fast they take effect or which will suit your needs better.
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Comparing Klonopin vs. Valium
The table below provides a general comparison between Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam).
Klonopin’s active ingredient is clonazepam. It’s available in brand and generic versions, as an oral and disintegrating tablet.
The FDA has approved clonazepam to treat the following conditions:
Healthcare providers may also prescribe clonazepam off-label for various other reasons, such as:
Benefits of Klonopin
Klonopin offers advantages that might make it a better choice than Valium or other benzodiazepines in some cases. It works fairly quickly, reaching its peak effects within one to four hours.Klonopin is also considered a high-potency benzodiazepine, whereas Valium is medium potency. High potency means it requires only a small dose to provide its effects.
Another perk is that you can take Klonopin with or without food, while a high-fat meal can delay Valium’s effects.And if you don’t like swallowing pills, clonazepam comes in an oral disintegrating tablet, an option that may also be more convenient for some people.
While both medications have side effects, Klonopin is associated with fewer side effects related to memory issues, likeanterograde amnesia( difficulty forming new memories), which can be more common with Valium.
There are a few other potential reasons to prefer Klonopin. If you’re also taking birth control pills, Klonopin is less likely to cause breakthrough bleeding compared to Valium.Klonopin has also been proven effective for reducing panic attacks, something Valium doesn’t do.
Side Effects of Klonopin
Like other benzodiazepines, most ofKlonopin’s side effectsare related to slowing down the brain and nervous system.
Some common side effects include but are not limited to:
Some examples of serious side effects are:
People with certain conditions are more likely to have side effects from Klonopin. Talk to your healthcare provider about your medical history and report any bothersome or serious side effects while taking Klonopin.
Valium is the brand name for the active ingredient diazepam. Valium (brand) is available as an oral tablet and injection.Diazepam, the generic version, also comes in other forms like an oral solution and a rectal gel called Diastat.
Like Klonopin, Valium is a benzodiazepine that enhances GABA activity to provide calming effects on the brain and nervous system.
Diazepam is FDA-approved for the following uses in adults and children:
Diastat rectal gel is specifically approved foracute seizure episodesin certain children 2 years and older.
Diazepam may also be prescribed off-label in adults for other purposes, such as insomnia, restless leg syndrome, or sedation for surgery.
Benefits of Valium
Valium has characteristics that can make it a better choice than Klonopin or other benzodiazepines. Valium is absorbed quickly, with its maximum effects occurring within one to two hours, potentially faster than Klonopin. It also stays in the body longer after you take it, but the exact length of time varies with a person’s age and the form of diazepam they use.
Valium is also proven effective for a wider range of conditions than Klonopin, such as short-term relief of muscle spasms.Valium is also approved for the short-term relief of anxiety symptoms, and it’s uniquely suited for treating alcohol withdrawal, something Klonopin does not do. Additionally, diazepam comes in a rectal gel form, providing another route for rapid treatment of seizures.
Side Effects of Valium
Common side effects of Valium are similar to those of other benzodiazepines and may include:
Serious side effects may include but are not limited to:
Talk to your healthcare provider to see if Valium is right for you.
Risks of Valium and Klonopin
Benzodiazepines, including Klonopin and Valium, carry severalboxed warnings.Boxed warnings are the FDA’s most serious alerts about medication safety. They include:
Because of these risks, it’s important to take either medication exactly as prescribed.
If you miss a dose of Klonopin, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed one and continue with your regular schedule. If you miss a dose of Valium, simply skip it and take the next dose at the usual time. For either medication, do not take extra doses to make up for missed doses.
Never increase your dosage without your prescriber’s approval. Avoid alcohol, recreational drugs, and opioids. Mixing these with Klonopin or Valium can lead to life-threatening situations. If you’re concerned about addiction or have a history of substance use, discuss it with your healthcare provider. In case of an overdose or emergency, call 911 or reach out to the poison control helpline immediately.
Interactions
To avoid potential interactions, inform your healthcare provider about everything you take before starting Klonopin or Valium. Discuss all over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements, and prescription medications.
While not a complete list, it’s essential to be aware of drug interactions that may occur with benzodiazepines, including Klonopinor Valium, such as:
Withdrawal
Withdrawalcan occur if you suddenly discontinue a medication that your body has become dependent on—including benzodiazepines like Klonopin or Valium. It can also happen if you abruptly lower your dosage.
Some people experiencebenzodiazepine withdrawalsymptoms for only a short time, while others may have long-term or protracted withdrawal. It varies depending on factors like your dosage and how long you were taking the medication.
It’s important to recognize the symptoms and know when to seek help. Common short-term withdrawal symptoms include:
Long-term symptoms may include the following:
As noted above, always consult with your healthcare provider before stopping Klonopin or Valium. If appropriate, they can guide you through a very gradual tapering schedule to reduce your dose slowly over time while monitoring for withdrawal symptoms.
Who Should Be Cautious When Taking Valium and Klonopin?
Your personal medical history is important when considering if either medication is safe for you. Healthcare providers may not recommend Valium or Klonopin for those with the following conditions or factors:
When taking Klonopin, it is important to consider the following precautions:
When taking Valium, it is important to consider the following precautions:
There are precautions outside of these lists that may apply to you. Talk to your healthcare provider about your full medical history.
Summary
Klonopin and Valium are both benzodiazepines that treat anxiety, seizures, and other conditions, but they have important differences. Klonopin is more potent and lasts longer in the body, while Valium can work faster and is approved for a wider range of uses. One is not necessarily “better” than the other, but it depends on the context, such as the condition being treated and other factors that vary with the individual.
Both medications come with risks like dependency, withdrawal, and potential overdose, so it’s essential to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions closely.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Griffin CE 3rd, Kaye AM, Bueno FR, et al.Benzodiazepine pharmacology and central nervous system-mediated effects.Ochsner J.2013;13(2):214-223.MedlinePlus.gov.Clonazepam.MedlinePlus.gov.Diazepam.Food and Drug Administration.FDA orange book.Edinoff AN, Nix CA, Hollier J, et al.Benzodiazepines: uses, dangers, and clinical considerations.Neurol Int.2021;13(4):594-607. Published 2021 Nov 10. doi:10.3390/neurolint13040059.DailyMed.Clonazepam orally disintegrating tablet label.DailyMed.Klonopin (Clonazepam) label.Chouinard G.The search for new off-label indications for antidepressant, antianxiety, antipsychotic and anticonvulsant drugs.J Psychiatry Neurosci.2006;31(3):168-176.Trenkwalder C, Hening WA, Montagna P, et al.Treatment of restless legs syndrome: an evidence-based review and implications for clinical practice.Mov Disord.2008;23(16):2267-2302. doi:10.1002/mds.22254.Guo X, Chen J, Wang W, et al.Treatment of severe tardive dyskinesia with concurrent administration of olanzapine, clonazepam, baclofen, and gabapentin: a case report.J Int Med Res. 2023;51(10):3000605231195154. doi:10.1177/03000605231195154.Minkel J, Krystal AD.Optimizing the pharmacologic treatment of insomnia: current status and future horizons.Sleep Med Clin. 2013;8(3):333-350. doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2013.06.002.Aurora RN, Zak RS, Maganti RK, et al.Best practice guide for the treatment of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD).J Clin Sleep Med. 2010;6(1):85-95.DailyMed.Valium (Diazepam) label.Kienitz R, Kay L, Beuchat I, et al.Benzodiazepines in the management of seizures and status epilepticus: a review of routes of delivery, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and tolerability.CNS Drugs.2022;36(9):951-975. doi:10.1007/s40263-022-00940-2.Guaiana G, Meader N, Barbui C, et al.Pharmacological treatments in panic disorder in adults: a network meta-analysis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2023;11(11):CD012729. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012729.pub3.DailyMed.Diastat (Diazepam) gel label.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Griffin CE 3rd, Kaye AM, Bueno FR, et al.Benzodiazepine pharmacology and central nervous system-mediated effects.Ochsner J.2013;13(2):214-223.MedlinePlus.gov.Clonazepam.MedlinePlus.gov.Diazepam.Food and Drug Administration.FDA orange book.Edinoff AN, Nix CA, Hollier J, et al.Benzodiazepines: uses, dangers, and clinical considerations.Neurol Int.2021;13(4):594-607. Published 2021 Nov 10. doi:10.3390/neurolint13040059.DailyMed.Clonazepam orally disintegrating tablet label.DailyMed.Klonopin (Clonazepam) label.Chouinard G.The search for new off-label indications for antidepressant, antianxiety, antipsychotic and anticonvulsant drugs.J Psychiatry Neurosci.2006;31(3):168-176.Trenkwalder C, Hening WA, Montagna P, et al.Treatment of restless legs syndrome: an evidence-based review and implications for clinical practice.Mov Disord.2008;23(16):2267-2302. doi:10.1002/mds.22254.Guo X, Chen J, Wang W, et al.Treatment of severe tardive dyskinesia with concurrent administration of olanzapine, clonazepam, baclofen, and gabapentin: a case report.J Int Med Res. 2023;51(10):3000605231195154. doi:10.1177/03000605231195154.Minkel J, Krystal AD.Optimizing the pharmacologic treatment of insomnia: current status and future horizons.Sleep Med Clin. 2013;8(3):333-350. doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2013.06.002.Aurora RN, Zak RS, Maganti RK, et al.Best practice guide for the treatment of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD).J Clin Sleep Med. 2010;6(1):85-95.DailyMed.Valium (Diazepam) label.Kienitz R, Kay L, Beuchat I, et al.Benzodiazepines in the management of seizures and status epilepticus: a review of routes of delivery, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and tolerability.CNS Drugs.2022;36(9):951-975. doi:10.1007/s40263-022-00940-2.Guaiana G, Meader N, Barbui C, et al.Pharmacological treatments in panic disorder in adults: a network meta-analysis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2023;11(11):CD012729. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012729.pub3.DailyMed.Diastat (Diazepam) gel label.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Griffin CE 3rd, Kaye AM, Bueno FR, et al.Benzodiazepine pharmacology and central nervous system-mediated effects.Ochsner J.2013;13(2):214-223.MedlinePlus.gov.Clonazepam.MedlinePlus.gov.Diazepam.Food and Drug Administration.FDA orange book.Edinoff AN, Nix CA, Hollier J, et al.Benzodiazepines: uses, dangers, and clinical considerations.Neurol Int.2021;13(4):594-607. Published 2021 Nov 10. doi:10.3390/neurolint13040059.DailyMed.Clonazepam orally disintegrating tablet label.DailyMed.Klonopin (Clonazepam) label.Chouinard G.The search for new off-label indications for antidepressant, antianxiety, antipsychotic and anticonvulsant drugs.J Psychiatry Neurosci.2006;31(3):168-176.Trenkwalder C, Hening WA, Montagna P, et al.Treatment of restless legs syndrome: an evidence-based review and implications for clinical practice.Mov Disord.2008;23(16):2267-2302. doi:10.1002/mds.22254.Guo X, Chen J, Wang W, et al.Treatment of severe tardive dyskinesia with concurrent administration of olanzapine, clonazepam, baclofen, and gabapentin: a case report.J Int Med Res. 2023;51(10):3000605231195154. doi:10.1177/03000605231195154.Minkel J, Krystal AD.Optimizing the pharmacologic treatment of insomnia: current status and future horizons.Sleep Med Clin. 2013;8(3):333-350. doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2013.06.002.Aurora RN, Zak RS, Maganti RK, et al.Best practice guide for the treatment of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD).J Clin Sleep Med. 2010;6(1):85-95.DailyMed.Valium (Diazepam) label.Kienitz R, Kay L, Beuchat I, et al.Benzodiazepines in the management of seizures and status epilepticus: a review of routes of delivery, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and tolerability.CNS Drugs.2022;36(9):951-975. doi:10.1007/s40263-022-00940-2.Guaiana G, Meader N, Barbui C, et al.Pharmacological treatments in panic disorder in adults: a network meta-analysis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2023;11(11):CD012729. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012729.pub3.DailyMed.Diastat (Diazepam) gel label.
Griffin CE 3rd, Kaye AM, Bueno FR, et al.Benzodiazepine pharmacology and central nervous system-mediated effects.Ochsner J.2013;13(2):214-223.
MedlinePlus.gov.Clonazepam.
MedlinePlus.gov.Diazepam.
Food and Drug Administration.FDA orange book.
Edinoff AN, Nix CA, Hollier J, et al.Benzodiazepines: uses, dangers, and clinical considerations.Neurol Int.2021;13(4):594-607. Published 2021 Nov 10. doi:10.3390/neurolint13040059.
DailyMed.Clonazepam orally disintegrating tablet label.
DailyMed.Klonopin (Clonazepam) label.
Chouinard G.The search for new off-label indications for antidepressant, antianxiety, antipsychotic and anticonvulsant drugs.J Psychiatry Neurosci.2006;31(3):168-176.
Trenkwalder C, Hening WA, Montagna P, et al.Treatment of restless legs syndrome: an evidence-based review and implications for clinical practice.Mov Disord.2008;23(16):2267-2302. doi:10.1002/mds.22254.
Guo X, Chen J, Wang W, et al.Treatment of severe tardive dyskinesia with concurrent administration of olanzapine, clonazepam, baclofen, and gabapentin: a case report.J Int Med Res. 2023;51(10):3000605231195154. doi:10.1177/03000605231195154.
Minkel J, Krystal AD.Optimizing the pharmacologic treatment of insomnia: current status and future horizons.Sleep Med Clin. 2013;8(3):333-350. doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2013.06.002.
Aurora RN, Zak RS, Maganti RK, et al.Best practice guide for the treatment of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD).J Clin Sleep Med. 2010;6(1):85-95.
DailyMed.Valium (Diazepam) label.
Kienitz R, Kay L, Beuchat I, et al.Benzodiazepines in the management of seizures and status epilepticus: a review of routes of delivery, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and tolerability.CNS Drugs.2022;36(9):951-975. doi:10.1007/s40263-022-00940-2.
Guaiana G, Meader N, Barbui C, et al.Pharmacological treatments in panic disorder in adults: a network meta-analysis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2023;11(11):CD012729. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012729.pub3.
DailyMed.Diastat (Diazepam) gel label.
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