<p><strong>Serious Skin Reactions</strong>: Serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), have been reported with clobazam in both children and adults during the post-marketing experience. A majority of the reported cases involved the concomitant use of other drugs, including antiepileptic drugs that are associated with serious skin reactions. SJS/TEN could be associated with a fatal outcome. Patients should be closely monitored for signs or symptoms of SJS/TEN, especially during the first 8 weeks of treatment. Clobazam should be immediately discontinued when SJS/TEN is suspected. If signs or symptoms suggest SJS/TEN, use of this drug should not be resumed and alternative therapy should be considered.<br />
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<strong>Respiratory depression</strong>: Clobazam can cause respiratory depression, especially if administered in high doses. Therefore in patients with chronic or acute respiratory insufficiency, respiratory function must be monitored and a dose reduction may be necessary. Clobazam is contraindicated in patients with severe respiratory insufficiency.<br />
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<strong>Muscle weakness</strong>: Clobazam can cause muscle weakness. Clobazam is contraindicated in patients with myasthenia gravis.<br />
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<strong>Renal and hepatic impairment</strong>: In patients with impairment of renal or hepatic function, responsiveness to clobazam and susceptibility to adverse effects are increased, and a dose reduction may be necessary. In long-term treatment, renal and hepatic function must be checked regularly.<br />
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<strong>Elderly patients</strong>: In the elderly, due to the increased sensitivity to adverse reactions such as drowsiness, dizziness, muscle weakness, there is an increased risk of fall that may result in serious injury. A dose reduction is recommended.<br />
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<strong>Tolerance in epilepsy</strong>: In the treatment of epilepsy with benzodiazepines- including Clobazam, consideration must be given to the possibility of a decrease in anticonvulsant efficacy (development of tolerance) in the course of treatment.<br />
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<strong>CYP2C19 poor metabolizers</strong>: In patients who are CYP2C19 poor metabolizers, levels of the active metabolite N-desmethylclobazam are expected to be increased as compared to extensive metabolizers. Dosage adjustment of clobazam may be necessary (e.g. low starting dose with careful dose titration).<br />
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<strong>Suicidality</strong>: Several epidemiological studies show an increased incidence of suicide and suicide attempt in patients with or without depression, treated with other benzodiazepines and hypnotics. There are very limited data available for clobazam in these studies. Cases of suicidal behavior have been reported with clobazam in post-marketing surveillance. All of these cases had confounding factors.<br />
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<strong>Concomitant use of CYP2C19 inhibitors</strong>: The concomitant use of clobazam with CYP2C19 inhibitors, including cannabidiol containing medicinal products, dietary supplements and recreational products may result in increased exposure to N-desmethylclobazam (NCLB). Such increases might lead to increased adverse effects, such as somnolence and sedation. When used with medicinal products that are CYP2C19 inhibitors dosage adjustment of clobazam may be necessary. Dietary supplements and recreational products containing cannabidiol must not be taken in combination with clobazam as they contain unknown quantities of cannabidiol and are of variable quality</p>