Klonopin is a brand of clonazepam, a medication used to prevent and treat seizures, panic disorder, anxiety, and the movement disorder known as akathisia. It is a tranquilizer of the benzodiazepine class. It is taken by mouth. Effects begin within one hour and last between six and twelve hours.
Klonopin can be very addictive, even individuals who start taking Klonopin as prescribed can find themselves quickly progressing to problematic levels of use due to the drugs propensity to elicit tolerance and dependence. If left unchecked, the compulsive cycle of use can lead to addiction.
Because of this, Klonopin is recommended to be prescribed for short durations only. Unfortunately, because of its ability to result in a euphoric high, Klonopin is often abused by those with no legitimate medical need for the drug.
Can You Smoke Klonopin?
It is very dangerous to smoke or snort Klonopin, smoking drugs can damage the lungs and make asthma worse, and users are at risk for coughing, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Abusing Klonopin will likely lead to tolerance and drug dependency if use continues over an extended period of time.
When Klonopin is taken over time, the pleasurable and medically-necessary benefits of the medication begin to reduce as the body begins to adjust to the increased amount of the neurotransmitter (GABA) that Klonopin provides in the brain. This tolerance to the substance results in the user taking more of the substance more often to facilitate the same results (or the same “high”).
This leads to the body functioning sub-optimally unless some level of Klonopin is present in the system at all times. When dependence on the medication has been established, an individual will begin to experience potentially severe benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms when Klonopin levels fall below a certain level.
The onset of addiction to Klonopin can be established during this time as the abuser will begin behaving and thinking in different ways with increased focus and attention assigned to acquiring and using more of the substance. The potential for Klonopin to lead to addiction will be influenced by:
- How long the substance has been used.
- The typical dosage used each time.
- The frequency of use.
Typically, the greater level of use leads to greater levels of tolerance and dependence and increases the risk for addiction. Remember, even people taking the medication as prescribed can become dependent on the drug.
Klonopin Safety Information
Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Klonopin at around the same time(s) every day.
Do not try to push the orally disintegrating tablet through the foil. Instead, use dry hands to peel back the foil packaging. Immediately take out the tablet and place it in your mouth. The tablet will quickly dissolve and can be swallowed with or without liquid.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of Klonopin and gradually increase your dose, not more often than once every 3 days.
Clonazepam may help control your condition, but will not cure it. It may take a few weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of clonazepam. Continue to take clonazepam even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Klonopin without talking to your doctor, even if you experience side effects such as unusual changes in behavior or mood, If you suddenly stop taking Klonopin, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as new or worsening seizures, hallucinating (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist), changes in behavior, sweating, uncontrollable shaking of a part of your body, stomach or muscle cramps, anxiety, or difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually.
