Author: James Anderson
When Can I Drink Alcohol After Taking Klonopin?
We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Both Klonopin and alcohol are central nervous system depressants, also called CNS depressants. CNS depressants slow the activity of the brain, which can be beneficial for many types of disorders. If you use Klonopin recreationally, which is not advised, you should never mix it with alcohol.
It could potentially cause deadly breathing problems and memory issues. You should wait at least two weeks after your last dose of Klonopin before consuming any alcohol, or longer based on your doctor’s recommendation. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.
You must seek help if you experience anything we’ve discussed. Unfortunately, Klonopin and alcohol can cause severe withdrawal symptoms that require intensive treatment. If you’re abusing them separately or together, it’s important to understand the actions you must take. This answer is based on how long it takes for the body to eliminate alcohol (ethanol). The average half-life is approximately four to five hours but varies greatly by how much is consumed and your demographics. Since it takes about five half-lives to completely remove a drug from the body, it will be removed in 20–25 hours.
When abused, it is abused for its potential to cause sedation, calmness and relaxation. Our pharmacist answers the latest question regarding drinking alcohol with the medication Klonopin (Clonazepam). Generally, it is thought that it takes at least 5 half-lives for a drug to be considered completely metabolized. Therefore, it will take at least four to five days for Klonopin to be completely metabolized and eliminated from the body.
Klonopin and Alcohol Side Effects
Alcohol and Klonopin are no exception, and mixing the two, no matter the scenario, is a recipe for disaster. Many people might wonder, “How long after taking Klonopin can I drink? ” To play it safe, you must wait until the drug has exited your system in its entirety.
If you’re wondering if clonazepam can be mixed with alcohol, the answer is a flat-out no. If you only drink on occasion, it’s unlikely you’ll experience these symptoms. However, if you’re using clonazepam and alcohol, your odds of developing severe symptoms increase dramatically. If you’ve gone through alcohol withdrawal before, you’re more likely to encounter it again the next time you stop. Vital signs like breathing and heart rate are not affected by an overdose from Klonopin alone.
- If you’re wondering if clonazepam can be mixed with alcohol, the answer is a flat-out no.
- They are likely experiencing an overdose and could die or be permanently brain damaged without immediate medical aid.
- Your doctor may be able to prescribe you a different medication or recommend alternative forms of treatment.
- If you only drink on occasion, it’s unlikely you’ll experience these symptoms.
- It is recommended that those who take Klonopin refrain from drinking alcohol, as alcohol can increase the effects of the drug.
If you recognize these symptoms, it is important to contact a medical provider right away. People with mental health disorders and those who struggle with substance abuse are at higher risk of abusing alcohol and clonazepam together. When you reach 12 to 48 hours after your last drink, the symptoms can become more pronounced and severe. At this stage, a hardcore alcoholic might experience hallucinations or seizures.
Some will start with detoxification, especially if the psychological and physical dependency is strong. Klonopin makes alcohol’s effects stronger, so if you drink, it is unlikely that you will be able to drink as much as you have in the past. If a person has become comatose, is not breathing, has extremely shallow or stopped breathing, and/or seems severely confused, call 911 immediately.
Popular Questions
Klonopin typically has a duration of action of around 6-8 hours in humans. If the alcohol and dose of the medication are separated by long enough, you probably wouldn’t even notice any ill effects. Some people abuse Klonopin to combat the anxiety that comes with other substance abuse. This includes potential Klonopin overdose and organ failure. The next few days will be critical, and 48 to 72 hours after your last drink can result in a severe complication known as delirium tremens (DTs).
However, taking additional medications that are CNS depressants (like alcohol) greatly increases the risk of dangerous and even fatal respiratory depression. That is why it is so important to use extreme caution (or avoid altogether) combinations of CNS depressants like alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines. If a person needs to take the drug to prevent these symptoms, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider about detoxification. Since the drug normally slows the chemical reactions in the brain, this can lead to a rapid quickening of chemical releases.
Is There a Safe Amount of Mixing?
If you’re using both Klonopin and alcohol, you might experience symptoms of alcohol withdrawal first, followed by symptoms of clonazepam withdrawal later on. This is because of the long half-life and will result in longer-than-normal symptoms. Klonopin withdrawal can last for days to weeks and, in some cases, even longer. Klonopin, on its own and at usual doses, is very unlikely to cause significant respiratory depression.
Klonopin, like many drugs and all benzodiazepines, does not mix well with alcohol. You should not drink alcohol or otherwise engage in recreational drug use while on Klonopin, as it can potentially have deadly consequences. The symptoms listed above are much more likely to occur when combining substances. Additionally, a person may experience more side effects than with either drug alone. Klonopin is a drug prescribed for treating various conditions, including anxiety, seizure disorders, tardive dyskinesia, vertigo and panic disorders in children.
People in these age groups should be carefully evaluated periodically when on the drug. Mixing Klonopin and alcohol can lead to the unintentional consumption of more Klonopin, which can result in a Klonopin and alcohol overdose. This can result in a state of being compliant and not in control of one’s own will or what’s happening to them or around them. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information.
Klonopin and other benzodiazepines are sometimes known as “date rape” or “drug-facilitated sexual assault” drugs. Klonopin is tasteless and, when mixed with alcohol, can easily be unknowingly consumed. Drugs like Klonopin, which belongs to a class known as benzodiazepines, get a lot of coverage and attention to due their possible serious adverse reactions.