clonazepam vs midazolam
Side-by-side comparison of clonazepam and midazolam Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Klonopin
Versed
Clonazepam is a medicine that belongs to the benzodiazepine class. It is used to treat seizure disorders and panic disorder.
Midazolam is a medicine that makes you feel calm, relaxed, and sleepy. It can also cause you to forget things that happen while you are taking it.
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.
Midazolam is used to sedate you before a surgery or procedure to help you relax and feel less anxious. It can also be used to help you feel calm during procedures like bronchoscopies or endoscopies. Midazolam can also be used to start general anesthesia before you get other medicines.
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.
Midazolam belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. It works by slowing down activity in your brain and nervous system. This helps to reduce anxiety, promote relaxation, and cause sleepiness.
- • Drowsiness
- • Problems with coordination
- • Decreased breathing rate
- • Tenderness at the injection site
- • Pain during injection
- Drug not working 13,610
- Tiredness 10,238
- Feeling sick to your stomach 9,567
- Worry or nervousness 8,735
- Head pain 8,596
- The medicine did not work 2,984
- Used for a purpose not approved 2,237
- Convulsions 1,373
- Low blood pressure 1,296
- Medicine affecting another medicine 1,088
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.
Midazolam can cause serious breathing problems, including slowed or stopped breathing. This is more likely to happen if you are also taking opioid pain medicines. You must be closely monitored by trained medical staff while receiving midazolam. Make sure the facility has the equipment and medicines needed to treat breathing problems immediately.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Midazolam may harm an unborn baby. It is not known if midazolam passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medicine while breastfeeding.
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How to Read This clonazepam vs midazolam Comparison
clonazepam is classified in the Benzodiazepine drug class, while midazolam sits within the Benzodiazepine class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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 50,746 submissions while midazolam has 8,978. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. 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 midazolam — 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.