Klonopin Withdrawal

When it comes to the use of any drug or similar substance, while the use may bring temporary relief, it has significantly more negative effects and impacts on your life. However, stopping the use of drugs and other substances is much more difficult than calling it quits. While it will likely be one of the most beneficial decisions you make over your entire lifetime, the actual process of quitting is extremely difficult for most users. This is what makes many of those addicted to drugs avoid quitting and relapse after they have successfully quit.

The withdrawal symptoms that come along with quitting will vary by the type of drug you are using, how long you have been using, and factors that are personal to you, your age, and your size¹Basit, Hajira, and Chadi I. Kahwaji. “Clonazepam – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” Clonazepam – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf, 7 June 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556010.. Most people addicted to certain substances or those who have been addicted for a long period of time will need professional help when deciding to quit. The withdrawal symptoms can be pretty intense and may be too difficult to handle on your own. Moving temporarily to some sort of rehabilitative center for detox and recovery helps many people successfully rehabilitate. Attending recovery at these centers helps people get out of their normal routine and dedicate time specifically to their recovery. Quitting and recovery is something very difficult to tackle on your own — especially when it comes to Klonopin.

What is Klonopin?

Klonopine is a type of Benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are pharmaceutical drugs that are prescribed for a variety of mental disorders. When used correctly, they help with anxiety, seizures, panic attacks, and can help manage withdrawal symptoms from CNS depressants like alcohol. They are highly regulated by the government and come in a pill or tablet form.

Klonopin is also called Clonazepam. Klonopin cuts off receptors in the brain that produce anxiety and stress. Those with severe forms of anxiety and anxiety disorders are often prescribed this medication. It helps slow down brain activity and helps those using it feel relaxed. Its creation was intended to help those with epilepsy seizures.

Some people who have been correctly prescribed this drug by a doctor for their panic attacks or other ailment and are using it correctly may even become addicted. It is not intended for long-term use. When the individual becomes dependent on the drug, their brain is no longer able to create feelings of calmness on its own. It needs Klonopin to do it. This happens when someone using the medication uses it for a period of time and they build a tolerance to it. In order to feel calm again, the dose needs to be larger. They may start taking more than one pill at once to make up for this.

While Klonopin is prescribed and initially used as a way to calm the mind, it can eventually make anxiety and panic attacks worse.

Common side effects found in those who incorrectly use Klonopin include:

-Reduced libido

-Impaired judgment

-Dizziness

-Vertigo

-Fainting

-Slow reactions

-Confusion

-Numbness

-Lowered cognitive function

All of this and more can occur when someone becomes addicted and incorrectly uses this regulated medication.

Ending Klonopin Use and Withdrawal

When quitting nearly any substance, withdrawal symptoms will occur. Klonopin is no different. Like mentioned before, Klonopin is often initially prescribed to help ease anxiety, stress, and panic attacks. When using it incorrectly, it can lead to more feelings of anxiety. And when it comes to quitting and withdrawal, anxiety is usually one of the key symptoms involved with that as well²Rosenbaum, Jerrold. “Psychiatry Online.” The American Journal of Psychiatry, ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20040376. Accessed 11 Oct. 2022..

It is best for someone to quit their use of Klonopin in a controlled and professionally trained environment. When those using Klonopin cut off their use abruptly, their entire nervous system is thrown off. This can cause other physical and psychological symptoms to occur. It is best to gradually decrease the use of Klonopin over time. In a rehabilitative center, they know how to do this safely and effectively. They will slowly lower the amount of Klonopin the user has access to daily or weekly. This process can be dangerous because of the severe withdrawal symptoms. A gradual decrease in use is the best way to keep the individual safe.

There are many different symptoms of Klonopin withdrawal and they and the severity will depend on how intensely the individual uses the drug, their age, their size, how long they used the drug, and if they were simultaneously addicted to any other substance.

Common Klonopin withdrawal symptoms include:

-Sweating

-Hallucinations

-Anxiety

-High body temperature

-Nausea

-Irritability

-Vomiting

-Trouble with sleeping

-Coma

-High pulse

-Panic attacks

-Hand tremors

-Death

When using Klonopin, it stays in the body’s symptoms for 18-50 hours. This could be slightly more or slightly less depending on the individual. After that period of time when the drug has completely left the body, the individual will begin feeling the symptoms of withdrawal.

Withdrawal from Klonopin involves two phases. Acute and Post-Acute.

The acute phase begins immediately after the drug has left the body. It often is dominated by anxiety and insomnia. It lasts 2-4 weeks. The peak time of withdrawal is around week one or two. If someone has quit abruptly and is not decreasing the dose over time, they may also suffer from hallucinations and seizures. Most of the severe effects are done with around week three and week four, but it is still common to have some of those symptoms after that period of time.

The post-acute phase begins after acute and may last somewhere from 18-24 months. Symptoms during this phase may continue to include anxiety and insomnia, but depression, mood swings, and irritability are often added. Most residual symptoms are most likely to occur up to three months after quitting, but some users may experience symptoms during the entire post-acute phase. It all depends on the individual and their use of the substance.

To help manage Klonopin recovery and rehabilitation, there are both inpatient and outpatient centers available. They are there to help you manage symptoms and gradually decrease the dose of the substance in a controlled environment. These centers are especially beneficial if you are dealing with multiple addictions at the same time.

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