Is Klonopin Dangerous? Specifics, Dangers, Major Side Effects, Mood, Behavior, Detox & Treatment

What Is Klonopin? Klonopin (Clonazepam) It is an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic type of drug. It is used to prevent and control seizures and panic attacks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, warns that taking Clonazepam can be addictive. Also, users may become physically and psychologically dependent on the drug. Therefore, a person should not attempt to […]


What Is Klonopin?

Klonopin (Clonazepam) It is an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic type of drug. It is used to prevent and control seizures and panic attacks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, warns that taking Clonazepam can be addictive. Also, users may become physically and psychologically dependent on the drug. Therefore, a person should not attempt to quit cold turkey on their own due to the dangerous side effects or withdrawal.

Clonazepam detox can be potentially fatal and requires medical treatment and supervision. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), during the 7 years from 2005 to 2011, almost a million (an estimated 943,032) emergency department (ED) visits involved benzodiazepines alone or in combination with opioid pain relievers or alcohol and no other substances.

So, Is Klonopin Dangerous? If a person is suffering from Klonopin addiction, they will experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea and anxiety. These symptoms develop because the brain and other body systems have become chemically dependent on the drugs to function normally, is highly recommended to take the Klonopin detox process with medical help. Some people abuse the drug for its sedative effects, providing a false sense of relief. Moreover, it takes as little as 3 weeks to develop a dependence on Clonazepam. When this happens, the user needs to keep taking the drug to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Even when taken as prescribed, Clonazepam and other benzodiazepines can produce withdrawal symptoms after only 2-3 weeks of use. Chronic abuse of these medications increases the likelihood that you could experience severe withdrawal syndrome. Because withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable and challenging to manage alone, you should consider entering a detox program. Clonazepam detox is a treatment process for people who are suffering from acute intoxication and withdrawal.

Is Klonopin Dangerous?
So, Is Klonopin Dangerous? Using or abusing Klonopin is not without side effects. Like many prescription drugs, this benzodiazepine is no safer than an illicit street drug when it’s abused.

Is Klonopin Dangerous?

Using or abusing Klonopin is not without side effects. Like many prescription drugs, this benzodiazepine is no safer than an illicit street drug when it’s abused. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 20.4 million people are lifetime abusers of benzodiazepines like Klonopin. If you’re one of them, you may already be experiencing adverse consequences of the medication.

What are The Major Side Effects of Klonopin?

Benzodiazepine medications like Klonopin work by altering electrical activity between the cells of the brain. For people with anxiety disorders, Klonopin can mean the difference between feeling frightened and feeling calm. But major side effects can include:

  • Birth defects
  • Seizures
  • Accidental falls
  • Confusion
  • Hallucinations
  • Weak or shallow breathing
  • Unusual heartbeat
  • Painful or difficult urination
  • Bruising easily
  • Insomnia
  • Drowsiness
  • Blurred vision
  • Headache
  • Slurred speech

Cardiac Consequences

Heart palpitations are among the last things any anxious person wants to experience, but they’re quite common when withdrawing from Klonopin. Breathing practices and moderate exercise may alleviate some of the tension that builds with heart palpitations.

Klonopin Side Effects on Behavior

Is Klonopin Dangerous? Klonopin brings various side effects that impact users’ behavior, such as:

  • Visual, tactile or auditory hallucinations
  • Worry that other people can read one’s thoughts
  • Irrational thoughts that others have control over one’s behavior
  • Paranoia that other people are watching the user
  • Vivid nightmares
  • Inability to harness control over uncomfortable thoughts or behaviors
  • Extreme mood swings
  • Nervousness
  • Out-of-character behavior
  • Emotional coldness toward others
  • Unprovoked excitability
  • Unexplained rage and anger
  • Emotional numbness
  • Inability to feel pleasure
  • Suicidal thoughts

Sleepiness

Users of Klonopin may feel extremely fatigued and unable to keep up with daily life. They might be struggling with insomnia that keeps them up all night, tossing and turning. Likewise, it’s hard to keep their eyes open during daylight hours. Other Klonopin users are tired no matter how much sleep they get. Fatigue plagues not only the mind but also the body. Klonopin has also been associated with muscle fatigue and joint stiffness.

Klonopin Side Effects on the Mood

Is Klonopin Dangerous? Klonopin dependency can also cause:

  • Anxiousness
  • Feelings of loss or sorrow
  • Lack of interest in activities once enjoyed

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America notes 18 percent of American adults are afflicted with anxiety disorders, and many of those individuals seek relief from anti-anxiety drugs like Klonopin. Ironically, anxiety is a common side effect of using or abusing Klonopin — a drug that is primarily prescribed for the treatment of the very same symptom.

In addition, some individuals may feel depressed and lack any kind of compassion or sympathy toward others. Depersonalization can occur with abuse and make individuals feel like they aren’t connected to their bodies. Furthermore, both short-term and long-term memory can be significantly impaired, and some people have failed to show improvement in this department even after medical detox.

Is Klonopin Dangerous?
Is Klonopin Dangerous? 18 percent of American adults are afflicted with anxiety disorders, and many of those individuals seek relief from anti-anxiety drugs like Klonopin.

Additional Issues Regarding Klonopin Abuse

Is Klonopin Dangerous? The list of neurological side effects associated with Klonopin abuse is often overlooked, even by some prescribing physicians. Some individuals will endure seizures that can cause lasting damage. Other things that come in tow with a dependency on Klonopin include:

  • Pain and inflammation
  • Cough, sore throat, and sneezing
  • Laryngitis
  • Weight fluctuations
  • Diarrhea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Sweating
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Trouble breathing
  • Fever
  • Fainting spells
  • Numbness and tingling in the limbs
  • Stiff muscles and joints
  • Paralysis
  • Trembling
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Urinary issues
  • Brain damage, in rare cases

Klonopin Detox & Treatment

As with all benzodiazepines, it’s imperative to undergo medical detox when attempting to get off the drug. The majority of the above side effects will dissipate completely within the 60-90 days it takes most people to fully detox from Klonopin.

Some people will continue to encounter lasting withdrawal symptoms that linger even after they are completely detoxed. Those individuals may be at an increased risk of relapsing. Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome occurs for a small percent of people who detox and continue to experience symptoms. Psychology Today notes this syndrome can persist for six months or more.

The standard form of treatment for an addiction to any benzodiazepine is to taper the dose until the person is completely withdrawn from the drug. Combining this treatment approach with other mental wellness applications, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or equine-assisted therapy can greatly improve the chances of a successful outcome. A Canadian Medical Association Journal study on CBT in conjunction with a tapering schedule for people dependent on benzodiazepines supported the use of the therapy technique, touting 77 percent of the combined treatment group completing detox while only 38 percent of the tapering-only group did.

Many people who abuse this drug started out misusing their prescription in an attempt to better treat their anxiety. Taking advantage of a stable treatment approach that includes medical detox can reduce the length of the withdrawal period associated with Klonopin.

Is Klonopin Dangerous?
Is Klonopin dangerous? As with all benzodiazepines, it’s imperative to undergo medical detox when attempting to get off the drug. The majority of the above side effects will dissipate completely within the 60-90 days it takes most people to fully detox from Klonopin.

Reclaim Your Life From Klonopin Abuse

Klonopin addiction is a chronic disease that can cause major health, social, and economic problems that should not be taken lightly. We Level Up California can provide you, or someone you love, the tools to recover from this condition with a professional and safe detox process. Feel free to call us to speak with one of our counselors. We can inform you about this condition and give some clarity to questions such as “Is Klonopin Dangerous?.” Our specialists know what you are going through. Please know that each call is private and confidential.