If your doctor has mentioned Urbanol, chances are you’re feeling worried, confused, or even a bit scared — especially if it’s for your child or an elderly family member. That’s completely normal. Medicines that work on the brain often sound intimidating.
Let’s take a deep breath together. There is no need to panic.
Urbanol is a medicine that has been used in South Africa and around the world for many years. When it’s used for the right reasons, at the right dose, and with proper medical guidance, it can make a real difference to quality of life.
What is Urbanol?
Urbanol is the brand name of a prescription medicine that contains clobazam as its active ingredient.
Clobazam belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. These medicines work on the central nervous system (the brain and nerves) and are used when the brain is too active or overstimulated.
In South Africa, Urbanol is commonly prescribed for:
- Certain types of epilepsy (seizures)
- Severe anxiety that is not settling on its own
Urbanol is available as:
- Urbanol 5 mg capsules – often used when starting treatment or for milder needs
- Urbanol 10 mg tablets – used when a stronger dose is needed
Because of how it works and the risk of dependence, Urbanol is a schedule medicine and can only be supplied with a valid prescription.
What does “benzodiazepine” mean in simple terms?
The word sounds scary, but here’s a simple way to understand it.
Your brain uses chemicals to send messages. One of the most important calming chemicals is called GABA.
When someone has:
- Severe anxiety
- Ongoing seizures
- Extreme agitation
…the brain may be sending too many fast, stressful signals.
Benzodiazepines like clobazam:
- Help GABA work better
- Slow down excessive brain activity
- Bring the nervous system back into balance
That’s why Urbanol can help someone feel calmer or have fewer seizures.
How does Urbanol work inside the body?
Urbanol works by:
- Attaching to GABA-A receptors in the brain
- Strengthening the brain’s natural calming signals
- Making nerve cells less likely to fire uncontrollably
In everyday language: it tells the brain to settle down.
Urbanol also has a long-acting breakdown product (called a metabolite), which means its calming effect can last longer than some other similar medicines. This is useful in epilepsy but also means it must be used carefully.
What is Urbanol used for in South Africa?
1. Epilepsy and seizure disorders
Urbanol is most commonly used in epilepsy, especially when seizures are:
- Hard to control
- Still happening despite other medicines
Doctors often add Urbanol to existing epilepsy treatment for conditions like:
- Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (a severe childhood epilepsy)
- Drop seizures
- Tonic or atonic seizures
Urbanol does not usually replace other epilepsy medicines — it supports them.
Many children in South Africa receive epilepsy care through:
- Public hospitals
- Provincial neurology clinics
- Tertiary hospitals (like Red Cross, Chris Hani Baragwanath, Tygerberg, Inkosi Albert Luthuli)
Urbanol is included in international essential medicine references, which is why it is often available through state facilities, although stock may vary.
2. Severe anxiety (short-term use)
Urbanol may be prescribed for short-term relief when anxiety is:
- Severe
- Crippling
- Affecting sleep, eating, or daily function
Examples include:
- Panic that does not settle
- Extreme distress during crises
- Severe anxiety linked to medical illness
Urbanol is not meant for everyday stress, work pressure, or long-term anxiety management.
In South Africa, doctors usually prefer:
- Counselling
- Lifestyle changes
- Non-addictive medicines
Urbanol is used carefully and temporarily when other options are not enough.
3. Calming severe agitation or muscle tension
In specific medical settings, Urbanol may help with:
- Severe agitation
- Muscle stiffness linked to neurological conditions
This is always done under close medical supervision.
Quick overview table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Clobazam |
| Medicine group | Benzodiazepine / Anxiolytic |
| Forms | 5 mg capsules, 10 mg tablets |
| Main uses | Epilepsy, short-term severe anxiety |
| SA status | Prescription (Schedule medicine) |
How is Urbanol taken?
Urbanol is taken by mouth, with or without food.
Your doctor decides:
- The starting dose
- How quickly the dose increases
- How long the medicine is needed
General guidance (this may differ for each person)
- Often taken once or twice a day
- The larger dose is usually taken in the evening
- Children, elderly patients, and people with liver problems start on lower doses
💡 Tablets can sometimes be crushed and mixed with soft food if swallowing is difficult — but only if your pharmacist confirms this.
Why Urbanol must never be stopped suddenly
This is one of the most important things for parents to understand.
Stopping Urbanol suddenly can cause:
- Rebound anxiety
- Restlessness and agitation
- Shaking or sweating
- Sleeplessness
- Seizures (even in people without epilepsy)
That’s why doctors always taper the dose slowly over weeks.
If your clinic appointment is delayed or medication runs low, go back to the clinic early — do not just stop the medicine.
Possible side effects Urbanol
Most side effects happen:
- In the first few weeks
- When the dose is increased
Common side effects
These are usually mild and may improve with time:
- Sleepiness or drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Poor balance or clumsiness
- Headache
- Constipation
Children may seem:
- More sleepy
- Less energetic at first
Less common but serious side effects
Get medical help urgently if you notice:
- Extreme sleepiness
- Breathing problems
- Severe mood changes (aggression, deep sadness)
- Skin rashes, blistering, or peeling
Older adults are at higher risk of:
- Falls
- Confusion
Can Urbanol cause dependence?
Yes. Urbanol can be habit-forming, especially if:
- Used for a long time
- Taken in higher doses than prescribed
- Mixed with alcohol or sedating medicines
This does not mean everyone who takes it becomes addicted.
It means:
- The medicine must be respected
- Regular reviews are important
- The lowest effective dose is always preferred
Alcohol and other medicines: a serious warning
🚫 Alcohol and Urbanol must never be mixed.
Together, they can cause:
- Extreme drowsiness
- Slow or shallow breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Death
Other medicines that can interact include:
- Opioid painkillers
- Sleeping tablets
- Some epilepsy medicines
- Certain stomach and antifungal medicines
- Cannabis products
Always tell your doctor or clinic nurse everything your child or family member is taking — even herbal or traditional remedies.
Who should not use Urbanol?
Urbanol is not suitable for people with:
- Severe breathing problems
- Sleep apnoea
- Myasthenia gravis
- Severe liver disease
- Allergy to benzodiazepines
- History of drug or alcohol dependence
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Usually avoided in pregnancy, especially early pregnancy
- Not recommended during breastfeeding
Always discuss risks and benefits with your healthcare provider.
Overdose: what parents must know
Signs of overdose include:
- Extreme sleepiness
- Confusion
- Poor coordination
- Slow breathing
- Unresponsiveness
How to store Urbanol safely at home
- Store below 25°C
- Keep in original packaging
- Protect from heat and moisture
- Store out of reach of children
Return unused or expired medicine to:
- Your local pharmacy
- Government clinic medicine return points
Do not flush medicines down the toilet.
Manish Sharma is a Master’s graduate in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and a registered pharmacist with a passion for simplifying medical knowledge for everyday readers. Through his platform, he provides clear, easy-to-understand information about medicines — including their correct usage, benefits, and safety tips — while also addressing common myths surrounding them.
Alongside modern medicine, Manish also explores natural and herbal remedies, encouraging a balanced and healthy lifestyle. His mission is to empower people with reliable health information, helping them make informed decisions and live healthier, happier lives.
