Clonazepam (Klonopin) Addiction and Treatment

All 50 states are battling the impact of substance abuse on people, families, and communities, and Nevada is no exception. Nevada’s substance use statistics seem to reflect slightly lower numbers than the national average. For example, the estimated number of substance use disorders (SUDs) among people aged 12 and older was 40.3 million cases (or 14.5%) in 2020.⁹ In the state of Nevada between 2018 and 2019, an estimated 230,000 people in this same age group (or 8.98%) struggled with a substance use disorder.¹⁰

An unfortunate possible outcome of substance abuse is overdose, which can be fatal. Many types of drugs can lead to overdose, and benzos have been involved in a growing number of them in recent years. In the United States between 2019 and 2020:¹

• Fatal overdoses from prescription benzos increased 22%.
• Fatal overdoses from illicit (illegal) benzos increased a staggering 500%.
• Emergency room visits for benzo overdoses increased by 24%.

In Clark County, Nevada, benzos were involved in about 26% of overdose deaths in 2018.¹²

What Is Clonazepam (Klonopin)?

Clonazepam is the generic drug name for a benzodiazepine widely prescribed with the brand name Klonopin. Some other commonly known benzodiazepines include:³

• Alprazolam (Xanax).
• Diazepam (Valium).
• Triazolam (Halcion).
• Lorazepam (Ativan).

Benzos are Schedule IV drugs, meaning they are controlled substances with legal medical use, but with relatively lower risk of abuse than, for example, drugs in Schedule I or II such as heroin and cocaine.³ Klonopin and other benzodiazepines work to inhibit or slow certain types of central nervous system activity, which often causes feelings of relaxation and sleepiness.³ They are prescribed to treat a variety of disorders including:⁴

• Anxiety and panic disorders.
• Seizure disorders.
• Muscle spasms.
• Insomnia (trouble falling asleep or staying asleep).

Klonopin is FDA-approved to treat panic and seizure disorders.⁵

Clonazepam Side Effects

As with most substances, even if you use clonazepam exactly as your doctor told you, you may have certain side effects, ranging from mild to severe. Common Klonopin side effects include drowsiness (sleepiness) and fatigue. At higher doses, other possible side effects include:^{4, 5}

• Feeling dizzy.
• Coordination problems.
• Slowed reaction time.
• Loss of balance.
• Problems walking.
• Muscle weakness.
• Blurred vision.
• Slurred speech.

Long-Term Clonazepam Effects

Regular Klonopin use or misuse can also lead to some more serious side effects, such as:^3–5

• Problems with focus, concentration, and memory.
• Agitated, irritable, or aggressive behavior.
• Worsened seizures in some people.
• Suicidal thoughts and behavior.
• Tolerance, or needing to use more and more of a substance to feel the same effects.
• Dependence, which happens when the brain and body get used to the drug and need it to feel normal. If you are dependent on a drug, you may have withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly reduce your dose or stop taking it.
• Addiction, a chronic disease marked by uncontrollable drug use no matter the harms it causes. The clinical term for addiction is substance use disorder, or SUD.
• Overdose, which can lead to coma or death. Your overdose risk is higher if you take Klonopin with other drugs, especially other benzos, alcohol, or opioids.

Klonopin Withdrawal

As stated, if you are physically dependent on clonazepam and suddenly reduce your dose or stop taking it, you may go through withdrawal. Klonopin withdrawal symptoms may include:^{5, 6}

• Anxiety.
• Panic attacks.
• Insomnia.
• Changes in mood.
• Dizziness.
• Increased heart rate.
• Sweating.
• Headaches.
• Muscle spasms.
• Sensitivity to bright light and loud sounds.
• Hallucinations (seeing, feeling, or hearing things that aren’t there).
• Delirium (sudden, severe confusion)
• Seizures.

Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be uncomfortable and, in some cases, life-threatening. To lower the health risks of certain withdrawal symptoms such as seizures, it’s important to talk to a doctor before deciding to quit taking clonazepam or other benzodiazepines on your own.

It’s also important to note that if you take Klonopin to manage anxiety or insomnia, you may have these symptoms again during withdrawal.⁶ These are called rebound symptoms and they can sometimes be worse than they were before you started taking clonazepam.⁶

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How to Treat Klonopin Addiction

The good news is that Klonopin addiction is treatable, and people recover from addiction. Since withdrawal from clonazepam and other benzos can be dangerous, you should talk to a doctor before you quit taking them. For many people, detox is the first step in their recovery from Klonopin abuse. Supervised medical detox can help you clear clonazepam from your body while keeping you as safe and comfortable as possible.¹¹

After detox, many patients continue treatment to address the underlying causes of addiction and learn strategies for living life without clonazepam.⁷ Common treatment settings include:^{7, 8}

• Inpatient rehab, where you live at a treatment center during treatment. Inpatient Klonopin treatment can last anywhere from a few days or weeks to a year and will depend on your recovery goals and needs.
• Outpatient rehab, which lets you live at home while going to treatment sessions during the week. Outpatient treatment sessions can be anywhere from a few hours per week to several hours every day.

Both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs often include a combination of individual and group counseling, peer support groups, behavioral therapy, and prescription addiction treatment medicines. If you’re not sure which treatment setting is right for you, talk to your doctor or an addiction treatment professional. They can help you choose the right setting to meet your recovery needs.

Finding Clonazepam Treatment in Las Vegas, Nevada

Deciding to enter treatment can be a confusing and overwhelming time. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is here to help. AAC is a leading provider of Klonopin addiction treatment in Nevada and across the country. Our skilled and compassionate staff are here to answer your questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at . If you’re ready to get help, we’re ready to listen.