Rivotril

Anti-epilepsy drug from the group of derivatives of benzodiazepine. It has a pronounced anticonvulsant, and also central myorelaxant, anxiolithic, sedative and soporific effect.

Indications for use

The drug of the first row – epilepsy (adults, infants and young children): typical absences (petit mal), atypical atypical (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome), spasmus nutans, atonic seizures (falling syndrome or “drop-attack”).

The drug of the second row – infantile spasms (West syndrome).

The drug of the third row – tonoclonic spasms (grand mal), simple and complex partial seizures and secondarily generalized tonoclonic spasms.

Status epilepticus (IV introduction).

Somnambulism, muscle hypertone, insomnia (especially in the patients with organic brain diseases), psychomotor agitation, alcohol withdrawal (acute agitation, tremor, life-threatening or acute delirium tremens and hallucinations), panic disorders.

Contraindications

Depressed respiration, severe COPD (progressing respiratory depression), acute respiratory failure, myasthenia, coma, shock, angle-closure glaucoma (acute attack or predisposition), acute alcohol intoxication with the weakening of vital functions, acute poisoning with narcotics analgesics and sleeping pills, severe depression (suicidal tendencies are possible), pregnancy, lactation period and hypersensitivity to clonazepam.

Special instructions

The patients with ataxia, severe liver diseases, severe chronic respiratory failure (especially at the stage of acute degradation), with the episodes of sleep apnea must take Rivotril with extreme caution.

Older patients must also take it with caution, as the can have slow elimination of clonazepam and reduced tolerance, especially in case of pulmonary heart disease.
The long-term use can cause the development of drug dependence. Abrupt withdrawal of clonazepam after the long treatment can cause abstinence syndrome.

In cause of the long-term use of Rivotril in children, you should be aware of the possibilities of side effects on physical and mental development, which may not be apparent for many years.

Alcohol consumption is not allowed during the treatment

Dosage

Individual. The initial recommended dose of oral intake for the adults is no more than 1 mg a day. Support dose is 4-8 mg a day.

The initial dose for infants and children at the age of 1-5 years must not exceed 250 mg a day, and for the children of 5-12 years – 500 mg a day. Support daily doses for the children younger than one year is 0.5-1 mg, 1-5 years – 1-3 mg, 5-12 years – 3-6 mg.

The initial recommended dose for the older patients is no more than 500 mg

The daily dose should be divided into 3-4 equal doses. The support dose is prescribed after 2-3 weeks of treatment.