Author: James Anderson
Klonopin Withdrawal: How Long It Lasts, Why It Occurs, Symptoms, Treatment
Klonopin withdrawal symptoms can be extremely dangerous, especially if a person is detoxing on their own or without medical support and supervision. However, medical detox programs and other professional recovery services can help mitigate these uncomfortable symptoms. Klonopin is often prescribed to treat insomnia, seizures and epilepsy. When a person goes through Klonopin withdrawal, they can experience “rebound effects,” also known as symptom rebound or symptom reemergence.
They can design a taper schedule to decrease your benzo dose gradually over time. This may even involve prescribing lower doses of the medication(s) so you do not need to cut up higher-dose pills. An addiction treatment facility or specialist can also help with this process if your doctor is not available or you’d like additional treatment or support. Patients should be closely monitored by either a rehab facility or their primary care physician. This is because their tapering dosage may need to be adjusted if they experience withdrawal symptoms. Klonopin, a member of a family of drugs called benzodiazepines, is commonly prescribed for treating anxiety and insomnia.
But ask about all nonopioid pain medicine options to treat your pain, including the benefits and risks. Many people attempt at-home detox plans and try to taper off without medical supervision. However, this can be extremely dangerous because tapering schedules and withdrawal symptoms can drastically vary from one person to another. This is why seeking treatment at a medical detox facility like The Recovery Village is strongly recommended. Along with receiving medical assistance from trained staff, clients can also receive therapy to treat any co-occurring disorders or other addictions.
Acute Withdrawal
In a world filled with recognizable drug names, the prescription medication Klonopin is sometimes an outlier. Klonopin, the brand name for the drug clonazepam, is often hidden in the shadow of other benzodiazepines such as Xanax or Valium. However, just like other benzodiazepines, Klonopin requires a careful taper if you discontinue the drug. Especially follow your healthcare professional’s instructions about how and when to take medicines during the taper. This withdrawal phase usually starts within a day or two, beginning when the last dosage leaves the bloodstream. Withdrawal is often one of the most challenging aspects of rehabilitation.
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- Klonopin, the brand name for the drug clonazepam, is often hidden in the shadow of other benzodiazepines such as Xanax or Valium.
- Call The Recovery Village today to learn more about medical detox.
It is never recommended that a person adjusts their dosage without first speaking with their doctor or a trained medical professional. Someday you may face a sudden, short-term health problem such as surgery or an injury. If an opioid is prescribed, let your healthcare team know if you had any trouble tapering off opioids in the past. If you’ve successfully tapered off opioid medicine in the past, taking opioids for a brief time — with guidance from your healthcare professional — may be OK.
Challenges of Cutting Down Your Benzodiazepine Intake
Sometimes, despite a taper, a person needs adjunct medications like anti-seizure drugs in the last stages of a benzo taper. Both carbamazepine (Tegretol) and pregabalin (Lyrica) have that data to support their use for this purpose. Medical detoxification from benzodiazepines often involves tapering down from the drug.
Dependence occurs when someone’s body starts relying on a drug like Klonopin to function normally. If someone with Klonopin dependence tries to stop using the drug, they will experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms as their body goes through the detox process. These symptoms happen because the body is relearning how to function without the presence of Klonopin. If your withdrawal symptoms become too much to handle, your doctor can slow down the taper and even increase your dose. The dose reductions are so small though, that you may not even notice them after the first couple of weeks. Anyone taking benzodiazepines for longer than three to four weeks, even people taking them exactly as directed, can experience withdrawal symptoms.
What Is Klonopin Withdrawal?
But there are risks linked to opioid use — including severe constipation, nausea, dependence, misuse, opioid use disorder and accidental overdose. For example, opioid medicines may help when the pain level is very high and short term. Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery.
Klonopin withdrawal symptoms occur because the body is relearning how to function without the drug. When ending the use of benzodiazepines like Klonopin, the body must re-adjust because these drugs affect the central nervous system. The rate of successful discontinuation of Klonopin treatment is significantly higher for patients who also receive cognitive-behavioral therapy than for patients who only taper. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a common form of therapy that focuses on modifying dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and thoughts by challenging a person’s irrational beliefs.
Many people opt out of medical supervision and attempt a “cold turkey” detox or an at-home detox. These two options typically increase discomfort and make withdrawal more challenging. Undergoing the withdrawal process in a medical detox facility is often a safer and more effective approach to use.
If you or someone you love has a Klonopin addiction, finding a high-quality rehab can help. Rehabilitation clinics connect a person with support from trained medical and mental health professionals as well as peers who are going through the same recovery journey as you. The results of this study indicate that cognitive-behavioral therapy is able to greatly help people overcome their Klonopin addiction when combined with a slow taper. Additionally, benzodiazepines should not be withdrawn abruptly because there is a risk of epileptic fits or a person can become confused or experience paranoid psychosis. According to an article published in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, when taking benzodiazepines like Klonopin, it can result in physical dependence and tolerance.