[Clonazepam as a therapeutic adjunct to improve the management of depression].
Clonazepam, which is a benzodiazepine structurally related to chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride, diazepam and nitrazepam, has been available for the treatment of seizure disorders in the USA since 1976 and in Japan since 1981. Increasingly, clonazepam has been used in the treatment of a variety of psychiatric disorders. The effect of clonazepam on depression was first reported by Jones and Chouinard in 1985. Since their report, many investigators have reported on the antidepressive properties of clonazepam. A daily dose of at least 3.0 mg clonazepam in augmentation of ongoing antidepressant treatment should be considered in depression. Regarding clonazepam augmentation therapy, if a patient does not show improvement by the end of four weeks, the treatment regimen should be altered. Age at onset of the first depressive episode and a history of family psychiatric illness should be considered the predictor of prognosis. The author discusses specific guidelines for the use of clonazepam in depression.
Morishita
Shigeru
S
Depression Prevent Medical Center, Jujo Hospital, 32 Hattandacho, Kishoin, Minami-ku, Kyoto, 601-8325 Japan.
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D002998:Clonazepam