How Long Does Klonopin (Clonazepam) Stay in Your System?
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Klonopin (Clonazepam) is a long-acting benzodiazepine that is used to treat mental health disorders. However, this drug comes with a high risk of dependence, addiction, and withdrawal.
Klonopin has a notably long half-life, meaning it stays in your system longer than most other benzodiazepines. This can contribute to dependence on the drug as the substance takes longer to leave the system and may begin to accumulate in the body. Long-term users of this drug are at risk for intense withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuing use, as the body will become used to its presence.
A medically-supervised detox for Klonopin withdrawal is necessary in cases where an individual has become dependent on the medication.
Klonopin, aka Clonazepam, is a drug used to treat the symptoms of anxiety and panic disorders as well as seizures. It is a very potent and long-lasting benzodiazepine that can remain in your system for much longer than typical anxiety medications.
Benzodiazepines inhibit the GABA receptor within the central nervous system (CNS). Klonopin acts as a depressant, leading your CNS to calm down. The user will generally experience a feeling of calmness and, ideally, less anxiety. Due to its potency and appealing effects (calming, relaxing and inducing sleep), it carries a high risk of dependence, misuse, and potential addiction.
A half-life refers to the time it takes for 50% of a drug to leave your system. As your body digests and filters what you ingest, the liver and kidneys work to clear the drug from your bloodstream, and the time it takes to remove half of it is called the half-life.
Klonopin has an exceptionally long half-life compared to other benzodiazepines. Klonopin’s half-life is 30-40 hours [1].
Other benzodiazepine half-life examples:
The long-term half-life of Klonopin means that the drug can stay and even accumulate in the bloodstream over time. This risk of accumulation can lead to an unwanted dependence. Our bodies are very adaptable. If the body is continuously exposed to a drug without enough time to process and eliminate it properly, it will eventually adapt to functioning with the drug. When a person comes off the medication, withdrawal symptoms can bloom and be unbearable. These uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms can prompt continuous use, leading to addiction.
Drug digestion varies from person to person, and it is difficult to tell how someone may react to a drug if this is the first time they have taken it. However, several key health and body indicators will affect the amount of Klonopin you should take and the speed at which you can metabolize and eliminate it from your body.
Klonopin is rapidly absorbed with oral tablets. Its effects reach full concentration 1-4 hours after taking it [4].
The drug is then distributed throughout the body. 85% of the drug binds itself to proteins, enabling it to work on the GABA receptors and deliver the desired effects. The liver takes over in processing any excess and eventually (with enough time) eliminates the drugs from the body [4].
As mentioned, the half-life of Klonopin is 30 to 40 hours. However, various drug testing results have shown that the drug can remain in someone’s system for 30 days or longer [1]. A user may or may not feel the effects of Klonopin after the vast majority of the drug metabolizes. The system can take much longer than expected to process drugs out of its system, so it is advisable to use precaution when taking Klonopin and other benzodiazepines as this long-lasting drug may cause adverse effects, dependence, and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
If you suspect you or your loved one is dependent on Klonopin and experiencing negative side effects, talk to a doctor right away.
Klonopin can produce a variety of positive therapeutic effects for its users. Doctors will generally administer Klonopin for anxiety disorders, REM sleep behavioral disorders, seizure control, and even panic disorder management [4].
Clonazepam (Klonopin) is one of the few anxiety medications that has had success in assisting those with seizures, including psychomotor, myoclonic epilepsies, grand mal, and focal motor seizures [4].
However, like all drugs, Klonopin comes with a variety of side effects that may vary in intensity from person to person. Common side effects include:
Less Common side effects include:
These adverse effects may be a sign that you are not the best candidate for Klonopin as a medication. You should always talk to your doctor about adjusting your medication before increasing or tapering down.
Be mindful of the fact that withdrawal symptoms from Klonopin can be detrimental to your health. The American Addiction Center warns, “The longer an individual has taken or abused Klonopin, the more dependent the brain may be to the substance” [1]. If you suspect you or your loved one has a strong dependence on or addiction to Klonopin, seek medical advice for help.
There are a variety of tests that can detect drugs in the body’s system. Not all tests are of equal accuracy, and some may work more accurately depending on when the individual took Klonopin and when the test was given. The following are the average results for Klonopin drug testing:
Your doctor will be able to assist you in tapering down your Klonopin intake if you are looking to remove yourself from the drug. Generally, the doctor will either prescribe you a lower dosage or direct you to reduce the frequency of your doses incrementally. This slower process helps the body adjust to less Klonopin over time and helps to avoid abrupt withdrawal symptoms like irritability, insomnia, tremors, headache, depression, sweating, confusion, and hallucinations [4].
Substances like Klonopin and other benzodiazepines, as well as opioids and alcohol, are recommended for supervised medical detoxing. These substances are linked to a variety of negative withdrawal symptoms that are not only uncomfortable but potentially life-threatening.
In extreme cases, severe withdrawal symptoms from prescription medication can cause seizures, cardiovascular complications like heart attacks, and even death.
Klonopin is a Schedule IV controlled substance due to its addictive nature and potential for abuse. The desired effects of calmness and relaxation put the brain and central nervous system at ease. When a person struggles to regulate these stressors without medication, they may develop a physical dependence on anxiety medications like Klonopin.
There are 11 criteria from the DSM-5 that indicate a substance abuse disorder based on behavioral changes and concerns:
These behavioral warning signs indicate that you or your loved one may not have a healthy relationship with their medication and may need support to overcome dependence and addiction. Klonopin is a serious prescription medication that can have life-threatening consequences if taken improperly or overdosed.
Overdose may occur when an individual has taken too much of a substance or combined the drug with CNS depressants (like alcohol or opioids). Klonopin (Clonazepam), like many benzodiazepines, must be taken within its proper range to avoid severe health risks, overdose, and death. Klonopin’s typical safe therapeutic range is between 0.02 and 0.08 mcg/mL. While there are a few variables at play, taking more than 0.08 mcg/mL is considered toxic, and symptoms of overdose can occur rapidly.
Overdose symptoms and signs include:
In severe cases, overdose signs can include:
Recognizing these symptoms early is crucial, as a speedy medical intervention can save your life or the life of your loved one.
The double-edged sword of Klonopin is the intensity of its withdrawal symptoms versus its effectiveness in reducing anxiety. While someone may be using Klonopin as prescribed, they can still experience unwanted withdrawal symptoms. The risk of these symptoms increases with prolonged use and misuse.
Klonopin Withdrawal symptoms include:
Klonopin withdrawal symptoms frequently require medical attention as they are a serious matter and could become life-threatening. It is strongly advised that individuals with physical dependence or addiction to Klonopin and other benzodiazepines seek medically managed detox assistance.
Klonopin is a benzodiazepine classified as a minor tranquilizer. Under a doctor’s supervision, it can effectively alleviate anxiety symptoms and also serve as an anticonvulsant for seizures. However, due to its long-lasting effect and appeal relaxation effects, it poses a risk of addiction.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction to prescription drugs like Klonopin, Gratitude Lodge offers effective and personalized treatment. Our treatment programs include:
Find effective treatment for drug addiction today by calling our recovery team at (844) 576-0144.
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Drug detox can vary according to the patient’s addiction factors, including the substance abused, how long the addiction has lasted, the patient’s medical condition, if any other disorders are present, and more. Our skilled and credentialed team at Gratitude Lodge work closely with every patient going through drug detox, facilitating the beginnings of a successful recovery at our rehab addiction centers in Orange County, CA.
Many patients don’t realize the toxicity of prolonged alcohol abuse and how it affects the body. Alcohol detox at the luxurious rehab addiction centers at Gratitude Lodge leeches your body of these toxins in preparation for successful treatment for drugs and alcohol abuse. Alcohol detox may not take as long or produce severe withdrawal symptoms, but it is still an essential beginning to your recovery.
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