How long clonazepam withdrawal

Since it is a prescription drug, some people may wonder if clonazepam is addictive. The answer is yes, and many people are suffering from Klonopin addiction in the U. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 38, Americans reported using prescription tranquilizers like clonazepam and 5, Americans reported misusing them in In addition, more than 75, people were admitted to the ER in due to complications caused by Klonopin. If high doses of Klonopin are used regularly over a long period of time, the user may develop a tolerance, which can quickly spiral out of control into habits of misuse and overuse.

Even if clonazepam is prescribed by a doctor, it should still be used with caution. People who abuse clonazepam Klonopin are also at high risk for overdose , especially if it is used with other CNS depressants like alcohol.

Signs of clonazepam overdose include:. It can be difficult to distinguish clonazepam addiction from regular use, as many people who use the drug as prescribed may also develop tolerance or physical dependence. However, there are several distinct signs of addiction.

For example, someone with a mental illness like anxiety or depression may be more likely to develop an addiction to clonazepam. Many people who abuse clonazepam or Klonopin also misuse other substances such as cocaine or alcohol, so other substance use disorders may be a sign of Klonopin addiction.

If a person has developed a tolerance to clonazepam, he or she will most likely experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when the effects of the drug wear off.

Long-term users of clonazepam may also experience post-acute withdrawal symptoms that persist for weeks, months, or years. These symptoms may include:. If you suddenly stop using clonazepam and try to detox on your own, the risk of seizure is much greater.

In fact, 20 to 30 percent of people who attempt to detox from benzodiazepines like Klonopin on their own experience grand mal seizures. A professional detox program will also reduce the risk of relapse with round-the-clock monitoring, a sober environment, and professional and peer support. After detox, professionals can also provide personal recommendations for an ongoing Klonopin treatment program after detox.

The duration of clonazepam withdrawal will vary from person to person depending on various factors like:. Klonopin, a brand name for the drug clonazepam, is a type of benzodiazepine drug usually prescribed to manage epileptic seizures and, more commonly, anxiety disorders and panic attacks. Klonopin arrived on the market in While it is usually the most effective way to manage seizures, it quickly loses its effectiveness as a patient builds tolerance.

This makes the treatment of anxiety and panic attacks its most typical use. This drug works like all other benzodiazepines, acting on nerve cells in the brain. Specifically, these drugs affect a part of the brain called the GABA receptor to stimulate the release of a neurotransmitter called GABA, which is responsible for feelings of calm and contentment.

GABA is involved in transmitting signals between nerve cells in the brain, and it acts as a neurological calming agent to keep signals between nerves even and balanced. Focusing on the GABA receptor is a location to begin treating seizures, as this neurotransmitter causes the brain and body to relax as it evens out excessive electrical nerve activity. When used properly, clonazepam is a powerful tool to treat a number of afflictions.

It is approved as a treatment for:. Given this wide usage, clonazepam is also a likely source of addiction. Among patients using clonazepam for longer than four weeks, one-third will develop tolerance. At that point, a higher dose must be used, or the patient must cease using the drug.

Hospital emergency room visits related to abuse of benzodiazepines now greatly outnumber those for illegal street drugs by more than a three-to-one margin. One factor in this widespread abuse is how easy it is to get a prescription. Some studies suggest that when done in conjunction with psychotherapy talk therapy , benzo withdrawals are more successful.

Other studies show that the results are about the same. If you are struggling with psychological or addiction issues, therapy is a primary component of long-term healing. Without therapy, people struggling with addiction often relapse. The ideal duration of your taper will depend on several factors, including your starting dose and your primary goals.

Studies in primary care settings have found that a gradual taper over the course of at least 10 weeks is most successful. There is no universal tapering rate. The research suggests that generally speaking, slower tapers are more successful. People taking high doses of benzos may start with a quicker taper and slow down once a lower dose has been achieved. Most people will have a primary goal of abstinence, but this is not always the case. In certain situations, such as advanced age, the goal is a dose reduction.

People who have been taking Klonopin therapeutically for many years are often on very high doses. This happens because people develop a tolerance to the drug, in which the same dose is unable to produce the effects it used to. Tapering helps reset your tolerance level so that you no longer need such a high, sedating dose.

Quitting benzos is hard but worth it for most people. One recent study followed patients for a full year after they began their benzo taper. Compared to how they were on day one, researchers noticed the following:. If you are interested in stopping or reducing your Klonopin intake, then the best place to start is with your primary care doctor. If you do not have health insurance, you can go to a community clinic in your area. Community clinics will treat you, regardless of your ability to pay.

To find a community health center near you, use this search directory from U. Health Resource and Services Administration. Klonopin withdrawal is no picnic. In fact, people who have withdrawn from both benzos and opioids often say that benzo withdrawal was the worse. But this stage passes. Soon enough, you will realize how much of yourself was lost to Klonopin. At that point, you will start to feel like your old self again.

You may even realize just how much you actually liked that person. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Prescription drug use and misuse in the United States: results from the national survey on drug use and health. Updated September Benzodiazepine dependence and its treatment with low dose flumazenil.

Br J Clin Pharmacol. Geneva: World Health Organization; Gopalan P, et al. Managing benzodiazepine withdrawal during pregnancy: case-based guidelines.

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Klonopin Withdrawal And Detox Klonopin withdrawal can cause panic attacks, anxiety and seizures. Detox involves gradually reducing Klonopin doses over a period of several weeks.

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