Side Effects:

Common Sleepiness, Uncoordinated body movements, Slurred speech, Dizziness, Fatigue, Memory impairment, Irritability, Headache, Dryness in mouth, Depression, Constipation.

Expert advice for Onapil Tablet
If you are taking Onapil for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety, it should not be used more than 4 weeks. It may become less effective over the time. It causes sleepiness or drowsiness. If this happens to you, do not drive or use machinery. Avoid consuming alcohol when taking the Onapil, as it may cause excessive sleepiness or drowsiness. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to conceive or breastfeeding. Inform your doctor if you have ever been diagnosed with kidney or liver problems. The addiction / habit-forming potential of Onapil is very high.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I take Onapil while taking a dietary supplement?
It depends on what kind of dietary supplement it is. Normally absorption of Onapil is not affected by food and other vitamins. Consult your doctor before you start taking the medication.

Q. Which medication is best, alprazolam or Onapil?
Both are equally effective as suggested in different research studies.

Q. What is the difference between clotiazepam and Onapil?
Clotiazepam is a benzodiazepine which has anxiolytic, sedative and antiepileptic property. It differs from other benzodiazepines (Onapil) in that the benzene ring is replaced by thiophene ring. Clinical use of clotiazepam is relatively low.

Q. Which medication is best, lorazepam or Onapil?
Both are equally effective as shown in the research studies.

Q. Which medication is best, diazepam or Onapil?
Both are equally effective as shown in the research studies.

Q. Can Onapil affect my sex drive?
There are few reports but it is not so common. Onapil does not affect the sexual drive in all the patients.

Q. Is Onapil a narcotic?
No. Onapil is not a narcotic. Narcotics are drugs with sleep inducing properties, usual derivatives of Opium like Heroin and Morphine.

Q. Is Onapil muscle relaxant?
Onapil is approved for the treatment of anxiety, alcohol withdrawal and epilepsy. Some research studies have shown it has got muscle relaxant properties.

Q. Can I take vitamin B along with Onapil?
There is no known major interaction found with vitamin B when taken with Onapil.

Q. Can I take vitamin C along with Onapil?
There is no known major interaction found with vitamin C when taken with Onapil.

Q. Can I take Onapil while I am on hepatitis C treatment?
The treatment of hepatitis C includes many drugs and the side effects depends on which drug you are prescribed.

Q. Can Onapil cause euphoria?
No. Onapil does not cause euphoria. It causes sleepiness, dizziness etc.

Q. Can Onapil get you high?
Onapil does not make you feel high.

Q. Can Onapil be replaced with paroxetine?
No. both are different medication. Onapil is an antianxiety, anticonvulsant drug whereas Paroxetine is an antidepressant medication

Q. Can Onapil cause rash?
Onapil is not commonly known to cause a rash but hypersensitive individuals can develop a rash.

Q. Is Onapil the best choice for restless legs syndrome?
There are other treatment modalities for restless leg syndrome but among these benzodiazepine class of drug Onapil is most studied drug. It is not approved for restless leg syndrome but used off label.

Q. How is bupropion different than Onapil?
Bupropion is in the treatment of depression and for smoking cessation. Onapil is an anti-seizure and anti-anxiety medicine.

Q. Can I take Onapil along with zolpidem?
No. You should avoid taking these two medications together. They both induce sleep and taking them together can lead to increased sleepiness, decreased concentration, ataxia and abnormal co-ordination.

Q. Which medication is better, Onapil or clobazam?
Clobazam causes less sedation as compared to Onapil as seen in few research studies.In few studies, clobazam showed a good retention when given for a longer period whereas Onapil needs a dose escalation.

Q. Can I take Onapil along with fluoxetine?
You should avoid taking these two drugs together as they increase side effects like sleepiness, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating.

Q. Can I take Onapil while I am also taking antibiotics?
It depends on which antibiotics you are on treatment. Consult your doctor before starting these medications.

Q. Can I take Onapil along with escitalopram?
You should avoid taking these two drugs together as they increase side effects like sleepiness, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating.

Q. Which medication is better, Onapil or nitrazepam?
Both are equally effective as shown in the research studies.

Q. Can I take Onapil along with paracetamol?
Yes. You can take prescribed doses of paracetamol with Onapil. Inform your doctor if you have any allergy or liver problems before starting these medications.

Q. Which is stronger Onapil or oxazepam?
We could not find any direct studies comparing Onapil with oxazepam. However, oxazepam is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine with a slow onset of action.

Q. Which medication is better Onapil or etizolam?
Etizolam is a short acting drug and its structure is a bit different from the benzodiazepines class of drugs. Both are used in inducing sleep and relieving anxiety however it depends.

Q. When does Onapil expire?
The expiry date of Onapil is given on the tablet strip and provided by the manufacturer.

Q. How does Onapil affect the brain?
Onapil works by increasing the action of GABA, a chemical messenger which suppresses the abnormal and excessive activity of the nerve cells in the brain.

Q. Can I take Onapil along with coffee?
Yes. There are no major interactions known between coffee and Onapil.

Q. What is the difference between Onapil and zopiclone?
Onapil is an anti-siezure, antianxiety medication. Zopiclone is a sedating drug from different class and it is only used for inducing sleep

Q. What is the difference between Onapil and olanzapine?
Onapil is an anti-seizure, antianxiety medication. Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication.

Q. Can Onapil cause low blood pressure?
Onapil is not known to cause low blood pressure commonly. It can cause palpitation in some patients.

Q. Can I use Onapil for sciatica?
No. Onapil is not a known medication for sciatica. It is an antiseizure, antianxiety medication.

Q. Can tremors be treated with Onapil?
Onapil is not an approved drugs for treatment of tremors. However, in some research studies, it has been shown Onapil is effective

Q. Can I use Onapil for nausea?
No. Onapil is not a medication for nausea. It is an antiseizure, antianxiety medication.

Q. Can I use Onapil for a headache?
No. Onapil is not a medication for a headache. It is an antiseizure, antianxiety medication.

Q. Can I use Onapil for vertigo?
No. Onapil is not a medication for vertigo. It is an antiseizure, antianxiety medication. However, few studies have shown its effectiveness in vertigo.

Q. Can insomnia be treated with Onapil?
Yes. Though Onapil is not approved for treatment of insomnia. Onapil is used off-label for the treatment of sleep disorders.

Q. Can I use Onapil for depression?
No. Onapil is not a medication for depression. It is an antiseizure and antianxiety medication. There are the different class of drugs for treating depression.

Q. Can I use Onapil in pain management?
No. Onapil is not a medication for management of pain disorders. It is an antiseizure and antianxiety medication. There are the different class of drugs for treating pain. Few studies have failed to prove the effectiveness of Onapil in pain management.

Q. What is the good time to take Onapil?
It is given mostly at night as it causes sedation.