For many people who suffer from panic disorder or anxiety, benzodiazepines (benzos) provide significant relief. As recently as 2010, the benzo Klonopin was the sixth-most prescribed medication in the U.S. Unfortunately, despite its benefits, Klonopin is only safe for a short period since nearly one-third of people take the drug longer than four weeks develop a dependency.
At Northpoint Recovery, we know how tough it can be to break free from an addiction to Klonopin. Our goal is to provide you with the resources and support you need to start Klonopin addiction recovery. With help from our detox and inpatient programs, you can finally put an end to your addiction and start living a healthier, happier life. Call 888.296.8976 or contact us online to get started in a prescription drug addiction treatment program today.
Klonopin Can Be Effective
People who are diagnosed with anxiety or panic disorder can feel debilitated by their conditions. Symptoms of panic disorder or anxiety include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Trembling
- Perspiration
- Hyperventilation
- Choking sensations
- Chest pain
- Nausea
- Crying
- Uncontrollable fear
Some individuals suffering from these disorders can feel that they are dying or having a heart attack. Klonopin helps sufferers manage their condition by controlling the symptoms.
Side Effects of Klonopin
Like other benzos, Klonopin brings with it a number of possible adverse side effects, including:
- Drowsiness
- Loss of coordination
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Aggression and irritability
- Reduced motivation
- Decreased sex drive or sexual dysfunction
- Physical agitation
- Short-term memory loss
- Insomnia
- Worsened depression
- Psychosis
- Depression
- Loss of inhibition
Many of these side effects are compounded when the drug is taken at higher doses or for more than a few weeks. Taking Klonopin with alcohol can also intensify both its effects and side effects.
The Dangers of Klonopin Abuse
Benzos, like Klonopin, can cause both physical and psychological dependence. When treated on a long-term basis, even people on low doses of Klonopin can develop a dependency. People taking Klonopin quickly develop a tolerance for which the only remedy is increasing the dosage. Unfortunately, a tolerance to the higher doses can also occur, thereby magnifying any adverse effects. After using Klonopin for as little as four weeks, people can become dependent to such a degree that they will experience withdrawal symptoms even if the dosages are just reduced.
Klonopin Withdrawal Side Effects
Klonopin has a long “half-life,” causing it to stay in the body for up to 40 hours. On average, withdrawal symptoms may start as few as three days after the last use. Stopping use abruptly or decreasing the dosages too rapidly can result in Klonopin withdrawal syndrome, which is characterized by:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Elevated blood pressure
- Muscular spasms
- Cramps
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches
- Psychosis
- Extreme agitation
- Heightened aggressiveness and irritability
- Anxiety
- Nightmares
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
As with all benzos, Klonopin withdrawal should be medically supervised by trained personnel because the most severe withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening. Sudden cessation of Klonopin can result in extremely dangerous seizures that can last more than five minutes. According to clinical studies, 10-30% of individuals experiencing these seizures die within 30 days of the onset.
How to Safely Withdraw from Klonopin
When a person has become physically addicted to Klonopin, the safest way to detox while still managing the physical and psychological symptoms is through a very gradual tapering of the dose. By slowly reducing the amount of Klonopin taken, the brain can restart natural functions that stopped while a person abused the medication. This gradual tapering allows the person’s body to slowly return to normal, lessening the potentially-fatal “shock.”
Under medical supervision, the dosage is regularly reduced by a small amount over about 10 weeks. The downside to this detox method is that people must endure withdrawal symptoms for a while. Some drug detox facilities prefer a “rapid detox,” where someone is given subcutaneous injections of other medications in place of Klonopin. This usually kickstarted the Klonopin addiction recovery process in just over a week.
Klonopin Addiction Treatment at Northpoint Recovery
If you are struggling with an addiction to Klonopin, Northpoint Recovery can help. Located in Boise, ID, our addiction treatment center offers a variety of detox and inpatient treatment programs to meet your specific needs. Our experienced staff will work with you to create a program to help you overcome your addiction and get your life back on track.
If you are ready to start Klonopin addiction recovery, contact Northpoint Recovery at 888.296.8976 today.