Are you currently abusing Klonopin and experiencing the physical symptoms of withdrawal or worry that you might? Understanding that this drug is potent and high doses might lead to addiction is crucial.
We will discuss what Klonopin is and help you navigate the nuances of seeking Klonopin addiction treatment today. Let’s learn more now!
What’s Klonopin (Generic Drug Clonazepam)?
Clonazepam is the generic form of Klonopin and is a benzodiazepine that could be habit-forming. The drug can help those suffering from anxiety, but it could come with a high risk of addiction. Rehab centers can provide treatment, which usually starts with a medically managed detox, individual therapy, group therapy, and more.
Benzodiazepines are prescription drugs that doctors provide to treat various neurological and psychological disorders. They’re actually the most widely prescribed of all medications in the United States and can treat anxiety and insomnia.
There are many well-known drugs in this class, including:
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
- Clorazepate (Tranxene)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin)
- Clobazam (Onfi)
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
The effects of these drugs are all the same. They work to increase the activity of GABA, a substance within the brain. This neurotransmitter blocks the impulses between the nerve cells in the brain, which help with:
- Reduction of anxiety
- Muscle relaxation
- Sedation
Short-term usage is safe and effective, but there’s controversy surrounding long-term use. The drug interferes with the brain’s natural neurological biochemistry. Therefore, taking more of it builds more tolerance. People start needing more and more to experience similar effects.
What Are the Positive Effects of Clonazepam?
Clonazepam offers many positive effects, such as:
- Less restlessness and tension
- Relaxation of the body
- Diminished anxiety and worry
- Feeling of calmness
- Euphoric high
However, Klonopin abuse can lead to respiratory depression, mood swings, and much more. Though you’re unlikely to experience a fatal overdose, the drug’s effects can lead to mood disorders or a benzodiazepine use disorder.
What’s Clonazepam Used to Treat?
Clonazepam can treat many conditions because of its calming effects. These include:
GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorders)
Doctors often recommend taking the drug to treat mental health problems, such as GAD. However, it’s only used for four weeks or so.
Insomnia
Patients suffering from lack of sleep are often prescribed Clonazepam. This treatment is short-term because it could lead to dependence over time.
Seizure Disorders
Clonazepam is very effective at preventing epileptic seizures.
Panic Attacks (Panic Disorders)
Because of the anti-anxiety and instantaneous effects, Klonopin can treat your panic disorder and improve your mental health.
Alcohol Withdrawal
The medication can help those suffering from alcohol addiction because it reduces the risk of having severe withdrawal symptoms.
What Kind of High Is Clonazepam?
Benzos are central nervous system depressants that promote GABA activity within the brain. Therefore, the rapid-firing neurons that cause seizures and anxiety are slowed down. Overall, a Klonopin high features a tranquilizing effect.
Many people wonder how much Klonopin they need to achieve the effects. In most cases, the normal dosage is all that’s necessary, especially after prolonged use. This leads to health risks and dependency.
In fact, most people use Clonazepam as a sleeping pill because it often induces drowsiness. However, they develop a mild addiction without realizing it until they stop using the drug.
What Is the Peak Effect of Clonazepam?
Generally, Clonazepam features a half-life of 18 to 50 hours, but it can start working in about 20 to 60 minutes. Its peak effects occur after one to four hours.
The issue is that most people don’t realize they’re addicted as they would with other benzodiazepines. Therefore, withdrawal might not occur until one to three days after that last dosage or whenever the drug stops its effectiveness.
In most cases, withdrawal symptoms for Klonopin addiction can peak around the two-week mark and last up to a month after you stop using it. If you’re also mixing Klonopin with other medications, you may find that the effects are severe. That’s why it’s best not to quit cold turkey.
Is Clonazepam a Strong Benzodiazepine?
Clonazepam is considered the most potent of all benzodiazepines. Xanax is the strongest and is used for anxiety disorders. However, Alprazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine with a half-life of about 26 hours.
It’s often best to take the lowest recommended dosage possible. However, you may notice that you’re using more and more (up to the maximum dose), which is when you’re experiencing substance abuse. You should consider an addiction treatment center with inpatient rehab to help you stop using the drug safely.
Who Abuses Clozanepam?
Roughly 15 percent of all Americans have benzodiazepines in their homes. They often get a prescription and find that they need more to quell their increased anxiety. From there, they turn to multiple doctors to get what they require.
The average age of people using Clonazepam is 25. However, teenagers are also starting to try them because of the calmness achieved from the Klonopin high.
Treatment for Anxiety
Klonopin is a benzodiazepine used to treat many conditions, such as social anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder. However, doctors will prescribe it for those who have other mental health issues, such as chronic panic attacks and more. It generally helps to control anxiety and reduce the side effects of the disease.
It’s generally common for people to take the drug too often or take too much. This often results in a physical dependence or psychological dependence that’s difficult to break. The addiction usually starts with a basic prescription to help reduce anxiety symptoms and should only be taken for four weeks at a time.
However, as you get used to the Klonopin high, you may start taking more than prescribed. Some people begin forging doctor’s notes or visiting multiple doctors to keep the addiction fed.
Typical Dosage
The medicine is available as a wafer (orally disintegrating tablet) or pill. In tablet form, you should use water, but the wafers can be chewed and swallowed.
Generally, adults should take about 0.25 mg two times per day if they experience anxiety. However, doctors may increase the dosage, but it shouldn’t go above 4 mg each day.
Risk of Withdrawal and Dependence
People taking the drug must be mindful of its risk of dependence and side effects. Long-term use can easily lead to benzodiazepine withdrawal and addiction. This can happen in as little as one month!
Those who stop using Clonazepam might experience withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, it’s best to wean yourself off slowly and seek addiction treatment from a local center. In most cases, you shouldn’t deal with an addiction alone.
Side Effects of Clonazepam
Doctors tend to prescribe benzodiazepines for two to four weeks only. They think that long-term usage could worsen anxiety and might cause brain damage or declining memory. In most cases, this damage is hard to reverse.
When you must take high doses or use it for longer periods, you could experience these symptoms:
- Mood swings
- Dizziness
- Drug tolerance
- Numbness
- Confusion
- Impaired cognition
- Reduced libido
- Slow reaction times
- Impaired judgment
Along with the physical effects, you might experience psychological symptoms. One of the most common psychological effects of Clonazepam abuse is getting focused on finding the drug. You may also feel like you can’t sleep or get through the day without it.
In most cases, a Klonopin overdose isn’t life-threatening unless you’re mixing it with other drugs and alcohol.
If you take other drugs and alcohol with Clonazepam, you might experience these things:
- Confusion
- Delirium
- Profound sedation
- Death
- Coma
- Loss of consciousness
Most people think they cannot die from a Klonopin overdose, but this is incorrect. If you’re on high-dose Clonazepam for long periods, it could end in death or have potentially life-threatening issues.
Severe Withdrawal Symptoms
Whenever you try to stop taking the drug, you will go through acute withdrawal. Your body and mind refuse to accept the sudden absence of the substance.
It’s crucial to seek addiction treatment. When you stop taking the drug suddenly, the Klonopin withdrawal symptoms will appear. This ranges from severe to moderate, depending on how long you took it and how strong the addiction is.
Likewise, Clonazepam addiction features a rebound effect, so the symptoms it was healing are now increased and worse. Common withdrawal symptoms from Klonopin include:
- Insomnia
- Intense anxiety
- Irritability
- Seizures
- Tremors
- Panic attacks
Clonazepam withdrawal symptoms can start after you stop using the drug. That’s a sign that you’ve developed a physical dependence on it. They often begin within a few days of not taking it. Overall, Klonopin withdrawal is intense and can be dangerous to manage alone.
In fact, you could end up putting yourself into a Clonazepam overdose if you try to quit cold turkey and decide to go back to using the drug at a higher dose.
Where to Turn for Klonopin Addiction Treatment
Having a drug addiction doesn’t have to be a life sentence for you. There are many Clonazepam addiction treatment options to help you stop using the drug. For example, dialectical behavior therapy could ensure that you understand why you became addicted and what triggers your anxiety.
Clonazepam is a habit-forming drug for treating anxiety disorders. However, the sedation effects can lead to addiction. In fact, many people are addicted after only using the prescribed amount.
It’s best to avoid stopping on your own because this leads to severe Klonopin withdrawal symptoms. Instead, you should talk to a doctor about discontinuing the medication or work with a rehab center. Crestone Wellness is an excellent choice and can help you safely quit using the drug so that you can heal. Please contact us if you wish to stop your Clonazepam use.
