Klonopin is a brand name for the medication clonazepam, which is a benzodiazepine. Like other benzodiazepines, clonazepam has sedative, anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant, and amnestic properties. It affects the central nervous system, specifically by enhancing the activity of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).