How Long Does Klonopin Stay in Your System?
How Long Does Klonopin Stay in Your System?
How Long Does Klonopin Stay in Your System? A common drug used to create specific types of seizures and panic attacks is Klonopin, and this leaves many wondering how long Klonopin stays in your system. The drug has a long history of helping reduce the severity of panic disorders, as well as helping to limit the number of seizures in many patients.
There are also causes of addiction, caused by individuals’ dependence on Klonopin. In these scenarios, it’s best that the individual receives professional help from a treatment program specifically designed to reduce the amount of the drug taken, as immediately stopping use can be deadly. Slow dilution of the dose is the safest way to rid the body of its chemical dependency.
Klonopin can remain detectable in the urine for a month, as well as via a hair strain test, and saliva tests are able to detect Klonopin use up to six days post-consumption.
Klonopin Common Uses
Klonopin is the common name, but the actual drug is called Clonazepam – and it’s a highly effective way to treat myoclonic seizures, as well as common panic disorders. The reason it’s highly effective is due to its ability to enhance GABA (Neurotransmitter Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid), the main neurotransmitter in the brain.
Along with its high effectiveness to aid these disorders, come a high risk of addiction and dependence. There are many side effects directly related to the use of Klonopin that need to be made clear, to those taking it as well as those that are considering using it to address those disorders. The pros are one thing, but not everyone is able to handle the adverse side-effects.
Klonopin Side Effects
When used for what it’s intended for — to help ease panic disorders and reduce seizures – Klonopin is an amazing drug. But, it’s important to also highlight the possible side effects one might encounter with its use. These include, but are not limited to:
- Being easily irritated or annoyed resulting in outbursts of anger and fits of rage
- Loss of memory and having trouble focusing and paying attention due to being easily distracted
- Not being able to concentrate 100 percent on one thing at a time
- Feeling constantly tired and worn down regardless of the amount of rest
- Issues with coordination and balance
- Loss of appetite and not wanting to eat
- Feeling light-headed and dizzy
- Becoming sick to the stomach and constant feeling of being nauseous
- Feeling depressed on a regular basis
Highly Serious Klonopin Side Effects
While the side effects listed above are not ideal, they don’t all present an immediate health risk. There are some that do, however, and it’s important to understand the potential risks of Klonopin.
These include passing out and losing consciousness, having trouble breathing, rapid heart rate, having suicidal thoughts, suffering from impaired speech and hearing, low blood pressure and respiratory problems, to name a few.
Klonopin, when mixed with other substances, can create a deadly mixture that can put the individual into a coma. Combining it with alcohol or other opioids can turn deadly.
Combining it with other medication or alcohol aside, it’s also possible to overdose on Klonopin by itself in large doses. When combined it just increases the chance of an overdose. The most common signs of a Klonopin overdoes is unconsciousness, a state of feeling confused, displaying poor motor skills and reflexes, as well as feeling overly sleepy.
Klonopin Overdose Treatment
A Klonopin overdose can be deadly, but there is one drug that can help reverse the effects, and it’s called Flumazenil. This is not something that can be taken casually or in advance in order to prevent an overdose. It’s a last resort option for those that have already overdosed.
It’s not something that can be purchased prescribed — the only ones with access to it and the ability to give it to a patient is an emergency room or emergency response unit, such as an ambulance crew. It’s kept on hand for overdose cases specifically.
Klonopin stays in the system for much longer than other drugs because it has a long half-life. So, when abused the individual already has it in their system and rampant abuse can lead to overdosing and possibly death.
How Long Klonopin Remains in Your System
There have been several case studies involving Klonopin that give us a good idea of how long it stays in the system, according to multiple test options.
One of the biggest differences between testing for Klonopin and most opioids is the fact that most urine tests will not be able to effectively determine if it’s presence, and if it is detected, how much of the substance is in the system.
One hair strand test was able to detect Klonopin in 60 percent of users after just one dose of three mg. In 20 percent of those, it was detectable for a month. Saliva tests showed to have a period of detection of around five days.
Klonopin Detox Options
There is a reason Klonopin is classified as a Schedule IV substance – it can be highly addictive. This leads to a significant number of substance abuse cases, involving both psychological and physical dependence on the drug.
Psychological dependence is possible even when taking it under the supervision of a professional medical provider. This is further proof that it can be a very dangerous drug. Physical dependence can happen as quickly as ten to fourteen days of daily use., even taking the recommended dosage.
When Klonopin addiction occurs a detox program is necessary, complete with a safe plan to back off the dosage in order to create a safe withdrawal.
Proper Detox is Required to Avoid Klonopin Withdrawal Symptoms
Attempting to stop taking Klonopin cold turkey can cause health complications, and it’s always best to follow a plan developed by trained professionals to avoid common withdrawal symptoms, which include sweating and throwing up, blood pressure fluctuation, tremors, feeling dizzy, suffering from insomnia, seizures and increased anxiety.
When taken under the guidance of a doctor, they will typically have a tapering schedule planned out to help the patient slowly reduce the dosage to avoid the issues outlined above. The dilution will typically involve a slight drop every three days until the patient is no longer taking it.
Medical Detox Programs for Klonopin Addiction
There is help available for those suffering from Klonopin addiction, offering detox programs that provide a safe withdrawal. Since it’s very easy to get addicted to Klonopin, it has resulted in many treatment centers and facilities that specialize in treating this addiction in addition to other drugs.
One common path to Klonopin addiction is the desire to enhance the high of other opioids, such as heroin and alcohol. When used this way it becomes more dangerous, but the enhancement is attractive to an addict, resulting in increased abuse.
How to Help Someone Addicted to Klonopin
When someone becomes addicted to Klonopin, the problem can quickly spiral out of control and require the care and supervision of a trained recovery center with staff that understands how this drug impacts its users and how to safely dilute the dosage to avoid dangerous withdrawal situations.
There are both out-patient and in-patient options available, while individual in-patient treatment will offer a much safer option as the supervision is around the clock. This helps to ensure no other drugs are taken and the detox process is highly controlled and supervised.
There are no cookie-cutter detox programs for Klonopin addiction and abuse. An experienced and knowledgeable drug rehab treatment center understands that each patient’s needs will vary, and the most effective Klonopin treatment plan is one that’s highly customized for the specific situation.
