clonazepam vs fluoxetine
Side-by-side comparison of clonazepam and fluoxetine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
major Known Drug Interaction
The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors sertraline (weak CYP3A4 inducer) and fluoxetine (CYP2D6 inhibitor), and the anti-epileptic drug felbamate (CYP2C19 inhibitor and CYP3A4 inducer) do not affect the pharmacokinetics of clonazepam.
Recommendation: These medications can generally be taken together without needing to change your dose.
Klonopin
Prozac, Sarafem
Clonazepam is a medicine that belongs to the benzodiazepine class. It is used to treat seizure disorders and panic disorder.
Fluoxetine is a medicine that can help treat depression and other mental health conditions. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Clonazepam is used to treat certain seizure disorders, including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, akinetic, and myoclonic seizures. It can also treat absence seizures when other medicines don't work. Clonazepam also treats panic disorder, which involves unexpected panic attacks and worry about having more attacks.
Fluoxetine can treat major depressive disorder in adults and children. It also treats obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults and children. Fluoxetine can help with bulimia nervosa (an eating disorder) and panic disorder. Sometimes, it is used with another medicine called olanzapine to treat depression related to bipolar disorder.
Clonazepam works by affecting chemicals in your brain that may be unbalanced. It enhances the effects of a natural brain chemical called GABA. This helps to reduce seizures and relieve panic symptoms.
Fluoxetine works by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps regulate mood. By increasing serotonin, fluoxetine can help improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression, OCD, and other conditions.
- • Drowsiness
- • Problems with coordination
- • Abnormal dreams
- • Problems ejaculating
- • Loss of appetite
- • Feeling anxious
- • Feeling weak
- Tiredness 10,238
- Feeling sick to your stomach 9,567
- Worry or nervousness 8,735
- Head pain 8,596
- Feeling sad or hopeless 8,123
- The medicine is interacting with another medicine 3,336
- Harmful effect from different substances 3,316
- Feeling sick to your stomach 3,233
- Feeling tired 3,155
- Death by suicide 2,904
Taking clonazepam with opioid medicines can cause very serious problems, including slowed breathing, coma, and death. Only take these medicines together if there are no other options. Clonazepam can be habit-forming, leading to abuse, misuse, and addiction, which can result in overdose or death. Stopping clonazepam suddenly can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor will slowly lower your dose to prevent withdrawal.
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teenagers, and young adults. Watch closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any changes in mood or behavior. Fluoxetine is not approved for use in children younger than 7 years old.
Clonazepam may harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Clonazepam can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Fluoxetine should only be used during pregnancy if the benefit outweighs the risk to the baby. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking fluoxetine.
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How to Read This clonazepam vs fluoxetine Comparison
clonazepam is classified in the Benzodiazepine drug class, while fluoxetine sits within the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, clonazepam has 45,259 submissions while fluoxetine has 15,944. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to fluoxetine does not interfere with how your body breaks down or uses clonazepam.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between clonazepam and fluoxetine - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.