Table of Contents
Misusing any drug recreationally is potentially harmful, although abusing benzodiazepines is extremely dangerous, and the feeling produced by the Klonopin high or other benzos is a cause for concern.
While the numbers may be low, in 2020 it was reported that nearly 5 million people over the age of 12 years old misused benzodiazepines like Klonopin, according to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
What is Klonopin (Clonazepam)?
Klonopin is the brand name of the generic drug Clonazepam, a type of benzodiazepine similar to Valium or Xanax bars.
Like some other benzodiazepines and anxiety medications, Klonopin is often prescribed to people suffering from anxiety disorders or panic attacks. It can be also useful in the treatment of insomnia and epilepsy-related seizures.
Benzos are a central nervous system depressant that enhances GABA activity in the brain, meaning the medication slows down rapid-firing neurons that can lead to seizures, increased anxiety, and panic.
In other words, the Klonopin high has a calming or tranquilizing effect. This is why benzodiazepines, like clonazepam, can be extremely habit forming and dangerous, especially when taken for longer than the prescribed period or when mixed with other depressants like alcohol.
Related: How to Increase GABA Naturally Without Drugs
How Long Does Klonopin Stay in Your System?
Klonopin, unlike some other benzodiazepines, takes longer for the body to process and is not as intense as medications like Xanax, which more quickly enter the bloodstream.
Peak concentrations of clonazepam in the bloodstream can take anywhere from one to four hours, depending on the individual taking the drug.
Because of its longer half-life, patients taking Klonopin do not need to take it as often as other benzodiazepines and the effects of the drug can last up to 12 hours in some cases.
With that said, Clonazepam or Klonopin can stay in your system for much longer than the effects of the Klonopin high. It may show up on blood tests for up to five days and urine tests for two weeks to a month depending on the dose and frequency of use.
Clonazepam Side Effects
Taking Klonopin as prescribed is critical because the medication can come with some unwanted side effects, particularly when a person takes a higher than recommended dose or mixes it with other drugs or alcohol.
Common clonazepam side effects can include:
- Confusion, trouble concentrating, poor coordination, and double vision
- Difficulty breathing and swallowing
- Inflammation around face, eyes, lips, and tongue
- Vomiting, shivers, sweating, and dizziness
- Muscle aches, lower back pain, and extreme fatigue
- Irritated skin, hives, and hair loss
- Loss of appetite and inability to taste food
- Lack of libido and ability to become sexually aroused
- Increased nervousness, anxiety, and depression
- Physical dependency on the drug that can lead addiction
- Suicidal thoughts
Many of these symptoms require immediate medical attention, especially because permanent damage can occur without medical attention.
When a person taking Klonopin is trapped in a cycle of dependency, whether from taking the drug as prescribed for long periods of time or from misusing the drug, it can be particularly difficult to stop because withdrawal from clonazepam can be extremely painful and uncomfortable.
Klonopin Withdrawal Symptoms of Clonazepam
Becoming physically dependent and addicted to benzos can happen without a person realizing it.
Misusing or abusing the medication may not seem like particularly risky behavior at first, in part because the Klonopin high has such a calming, and disarming effect.
Once the brain and body are dependent on the drug, however, getting past the grip of any benzos can be incredibly difficult and dangerous.
In fact, healthcare experts do not recommend that people addicted to benzodiazepines give up the drugs “cold turkey” because severe benzo withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous, and in some cases, even fatal.
Withdrawal symptoms can include some of the following:
- Extreme physical cravings
- Increase in anxiety and panic attacks
- Rapid shifts in mood, from depression to irritability
- Problems focusing and concentrating or experiencing confusion
- Sleep disruption, such as the onset of severe insomnia
- Sweating, shakes, shivers, and tremors in the body
- Seizures or coma
- In severe cases, death can occur
The extreme discomfort and fear of Klonopin withdrawal drives many users to continue using the drug despite their addiction and unwanted side effects.
Klonopin withdrawal and detox should be done in a medically supervised environment.
Acute clonazepam withdrawal symptoms, the stage when a person is the most physically vulnerable to health complications, can last anywhere from five to 14 days.
After acute withdrawal, however, many patients may still experience severe anxiety. This is because it can take the brain two weeks to six months to return to its normal functioning to produce natural anxiety inhibitors.
The physical and mental symptoms of Klonopin withdrawal will usually improve with time, though getting through detox and withdrawal is just the first step.
Those with a benzodiazepine use disorder typically need substance addiction treatment to make a full recovery.
Klonopin Withdrawal and Detox Treatment
The first step in recovery from Klonopin dependence or addiction is detox in a benzo withdrawal treatment facility that provides a medically supervised environment.
Patients in some cases are given other prescription drugs that can help ease Klonopin withdrawal symptoms, though it’s important that medical staff be on hand in case of serious health complications, such as a seizure or coma.
Proper drug detox for all substances is necessary for a safe and comfortable recovery, but it is even more essential when dealing with withdrawal from benzos like Klonopin.
After the acute-withdrawal phase, the work of full recovery can get started with individual counseling, group therapy and, if appropriate, family therapy. All of these will explore the underlying root of addiction and use techniques to manage the behavior.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based talk therapy that has shown to be effective in helping people manage and overcome triggers that may lead to relapse.
Ideally, patients will recover at an inpatient residential facility that offers full-time support during recovery and an experienced medical team of professional addictionologists.
Because the effects of Klonopin withdrawal can take longer than other substances, it’s crucial to monitor each person’s progress at every phase of treatment and recovery to ensure he or she stays on track, and to get ahead of any complications that may arise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Klonopin last?
Klonopin typically starts to produce a calming effect within 1 to 4 hours after taking it, and the effects can last for up to 12 hours, which is longer than some other benzodiazepines.
It has a long half-life of 30 to 40 hours, meaning half of it will last in the body for that length of time. It usually takes 5 half-lives, or 6 to 9 days for Klonopin to be completely out of the body.
How long does Klonopin take to peak?
In most cases, it usually takes 1 to 4 hours for Klonopin to reach peak blood concentrations in the body. The peak rate will vary for each person based on the dose taken, metabolism, how much food is present in the system, and other factors.
What are the signs that Klonopin is starting to take effect?
The Klonopin high will produce a number of noticeable effects that begin within 20 minutes to an hour. When it starts working, individuals will feel a sense of calm and relaxation.
Drowsiness and sleepiness will occur for some people and others will notice a decrease in anxiety and muscle tension.
Some people experience dizziness or feel lightheaded when it begins working, although this often passes after adjusting to these known Klonopin side effects.
What is considered a Klonopin high dose?
The dosage of Klonopin will vary depending on the condition being treated. For seizure disorders, the daily dose can be 20 mg total, taken in smaller doses throughout the day.
The recommended maximum dose for panic disorders is generally 4 mg per day.
For seniors and elderly patients who have a higher sensitivity to benzos, the maximum dose may be limited to only 1.5 mg per day.
Taking doses higher than these recommendations can increase the risk of severe Klonopin side effects.
What are the risks of taking more than 20 mg of Klonopin per day?
Taking more than 20 mg of Klonopin (clonazepam) per day can produce severe side effects including:
- Increased risk of overdose
- Extreme drowsiness
- Severe dizziness
- Confusion and disorientation
- Memory problems
- Impaired coordination
- Muscle weakness
- Dependence and addiction
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Cognitive impairment
- Increased chance of falls and accidents
Does Klonopin feel like Xanax?
Even though Klonopin (clonazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam) are both benzodiazepines used for treating anxiety and panic disorders, they produce similar feelings, although the onset, duration, and intensity are different.
Xanax works more quickly, and the duration is shorter with the effects being felt within an hour or two and lasting 4 to 6 hours.
The Klonopin high begins within 1 to 4 hours and lasts up to 12 hours.
Because of the way each drug works, Xanax can be taken several times during the day, and the feeling may be more intense because it acts more quickly.
Klonopin on the other hand, is only taken once or twice a day, and the feeling is more gradual because it lasts longer.
They both treat panic disorders and anxiety, although Xanax is more common for generalized anxiety disorder and Klonopin is also used for seizure disorders.
