Klonopin Detox Importance, Process, Duration, Medications, Withdrawal, Dangers & Treatment

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.

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.

• Evaluation: You receive a comprehensive evaluation, which includes screening for any co-occurring medical or physical health issues, examining your overall health, and a screening for any drugs being used prior to admission. The evaluation helps to determine the most appropriate level of care for you.

• Stabilization: The second phase of the detox process is the actual detox. You are assisted and supported, in most cases with medical supervision, as your body withdraws from the substance. You may receive medications to help minimize any withdrawal symptoms.

• Fostering entry into treatment: Detox is not a form of treatment, so you will need to begin a formal treatment program once you have successfully detoxed to ensure your best chances of sobriety. Detox center staff will help you find the best treatment program and assist you in making a smooth transition into the next stage of your recovery.

Any time a person becomes physically dependent on a drug, they may experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms occur when the body becomes reliant on a substance for normal operation and then the discontinuation or a reduction in dosage creates physical discomfort as the body readjusts to life without the substance. Klonopin, the brand name for clonazepam, can significantly affect the central nervous system. When people no longer take Klonopin as prescribed, and begin misusing the drug, the body often reacts negatively and will attempt to detox itself which will lead to withdrawal symptoms occurring.

If someone is misusing Klonopin, or they stopped misusing the drug and are now experiencing withdrawal symptoms, know that withdrawal and detox are the first steps in the recovery process. Because these withdrawal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable they can create doubt about starting a rehabilitation program. Ultimately though, it’s best to seek professional help to deal with the detoxification process and the symptoms that come along with withdrawal.

• An acute withdrawal syndrome similar to that seen during severe alcohol withdrawal. Known as delirium tremens, symptoms may include profound confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, agitation, and seizures.

• Seizures.
• Increased anxiety.
• Increased heart rate.
• Increased blood pressure.

• The length of time a person has been using Klonopin
• The amount of Klonopin a person took
• How frequently they took the drug

• Whether they mixed Klonpin with alcohol or other drugs
• The person’s mental health and medical frequency

• Hallucinations
• Increased body temperature
• Irritability
• Trouble with coordination
• Sleeplessness
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Anxiety

• Seizures
• Sweating
• Increased pulse rate
• Hand tremors
• Panic attacks
• Coma
• Death

The rebound effect is the sudden return of symptoms that the drug is designed to control. This can occur while using the substance or even during the acute withdrawal phase. Individuals often report experiencing rebound anxiety immediately as they begin the withdrawal process. This anxiety can be low-level nervousness or can be severe and include panic attacks.

While in the short term [benzodiazepines like Klonopin] provide rapid and pleasing relief, in the long term they ultimately lead to more insomnia and anxiety. They create a whole other nightmare. If these rebound effects appear, they typically last between two or three days before fading away.

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Mood-swings

• Depression
• Restlessness

• Days 1-3: The first signs of withdrawal appear one to three days after the last dose. Mild anxiety and other mood changes start becoming noticeable. It may also be harder to fall asleep or get a full night’s rest.
• Days 7-14: Withdrawal symptoms from Klonopin start to peak in one to two weeks from the last dose. Anxiety and irritability are typical during this time. Those who quit cold turkey may experience intense body tremors, hallucinations or seizures.

• Weeks 3-4: Withdrawal symptoms start to fade in three to four weeks. It is still common to have symptoms like anxiety during this time. Some days may be harder than others, but the worst of Withdrawal is usually over at this point.
• Months 2+: Mild withdrawal symptoms are still possible up to three months after quitting Klonopin. Those with severe addictions are most likely to continue having noticeable symptoms. Tapering down a user’s Klonopin dose can prevent prolonged symptoms.

The first step of ending an addiction to Klonopin involves slowly tapering down doses to minimize withdrawal symptoms and prevent other complications. Safely tapering down Klonopin doses usually takes between 2 and 3 weeks.

Former Klonopin addict, Kelley McMillan struggled with alcohol abuse and was subsequently prescribed Klonopin for anxiety. She took 1.5 milligrams of Klonopin a day, always following her prescription, but eventually became addicted to it. In an article she wrote for Vogue Magazine, McMillan explained how detoxing from Klonopin can be difficult without tapering down doses.

For the most part, giving up alcohol was easy and the results were almost immediate. But whenever I lower my Klonopin dose too rapidly, my world starts to teeter out of control.

Kelley McMillan, Vogue.com, 2014

A 2010 study of 73 long-term Klonopin users found tapering doses to be an effective strategy. These people had all become addicted after taking Klonopin to manage panic attacks for over three years. Researchers reduced each person’s daily dose by 0.5 milligrams every two weeks. Once the participants were taking 1 milligram per day, doctors decreased the dose by 0.25 milligrams every week until doses were stopped altogether.