Author: Charles Frank

What is Clonazolam?

She has been a Registered Nurse for 30 years, Shannon’s experience ranges from critical care to flight nursing, medical detox, sexual assault exams, and SWAT nursing. Shannon has been with Gallus Medical Detox Centers since 2010 and is a vital part of our organization. Benzodiazepine drugs contain a benzene ring fused to a diazepine ring, which is a seven membered ring with the two nitrogen constituents located at R1 and R4. The benzyl ring of clonazolam is substituted at R8 with a nitro group, NO2-.

1. They are effective medication, but pose a significant risk of addiction.
2. This psychoactive substance is significantly more potent than most other benzodiazepines and may trigger amnesia and an overdose when used in doses higher than 0.5 mg.
3. Small quantities of alcohol can also help to reduce the symptoms, but otherwise cannot be used as an effective tapering agent.
4. Even a small dose can produce intense sedation and induce amnesia.
5. If one wishes to discontinue after a period of regular use, it is safest to reduce the dose each day by a very small amount for a couple of weeks until close to abstinence.

The clonazolam you use may produce additional effects than those mentioned above, especially if it is mixed with other substances like opioids and stimulants. The effects of clonazolam can be unpredictable, as the type of ingredients and their amounts may vary from one batch to the next. Avoid using any clonazolam at all if possible, as you will never know exactly what is in this drug if you are buying it from dealers on the street.

Common Side Effects of Clonazolam

Clonazolam is a highly potent designer benzodiazepine that has been increasingly sold as an alternative to other prescription benzodiazepines. It’s a derivative of clonazepam (Klonopin) and alprazolam (Xanax) with potent sedative, anxiolytic, and muscle relaxant activity. The best drug rehab centers will customize your treatment based on the underlying causes of your addiction and clonazolam misuse. Look for a rehab center that offers both medical detox and residential rehab, as these programs can help you recover from your substance use disorder in full.

Outpatient rehab usually meets one or more days a week and includes 12-step support group meetings like Narcotics Anonymous. Benzodiazepines like clonazolam interact with a brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) that plays an important role in many bodily processes including sleep and mood. Changes to GABA activity in the brain are what trigger the effects caused by clonazolam. A recent study showed that Clonazolam abuse causes an altered mental status, hypotension, and changes to heart rhythms. Another report showed that ingesting the drug in liquid form may increase the risk of accidental overdose.

Clonazolam vs. Other Short To Intermediate-Acting Benzodiazepines :

After detox is complete, you can transition into a residential drug rehab program to receive counseling and behavioral therapy for clonazolam addiction. Get emergency medical help right away if you or someone else is experiencing any of the above symptoms after using clonazolam. Unlike an opioid overdose that can be reversed with naloxone, a benzodiazepine overdose cannot always be reversed and may result in death.

This is a traditional tea made from chamomile flowers, which is supposed to work by binding to the same receptor as that of benzodiazepine and potentiates the activity of GABA. The tea is well-known for its multiple health benefits, including a calming effect [6]. Certain drugs can also reduce the metabolism of Clonazolam, increasing its toxicity, while other drugs can increase the metabolism, reducing the effectiveness of clonazolam. You should avoid certain activities that are risky and require attention, such as driving, operating heavy machinery or electrical equipment, performing surgeries, or flying a plane. So, it is better to avoid these activities while taking the drug to avoid harm. Clonazolam is sold in powdered form, blotter form, liquid form, and tablet form.

The physical dependence on clonazolam is characterized by a specific set of withdrawal symptoms that can occur when you suddenly stop using this drug after a period of regular use. Clonazolam withdrawal symptoms are the same as those produced by other benzodiazepines and include nausea, vomiting, and headache. Clonazolam is highly addictive and habit-forming like heroin and other Schedule I drugs. Most prescription benzodiazepines are Schedule IV drugs that can lead to physical dependence and addiction when used regularly for between two and four weeks. Clonazolam may lead to addiction even sooner due to its higher potency.

There are cases reporting serious side effects requiring critical care admission and intubation with mechanical ventilation. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, we are here to help. At Gallus Medical Detox Centers, we bring compassion to the commotion.

Psychobiotics are food products containing bacteria that are beneficial for the treatment or prevention of mental health conditions. Lactobacillus Brevis and Bifidobacterium dentium are two common bacteria that synthesize GABA, which is helpful for providing calming effects and is used for the treatment and prevention of anxiety. Furthermore, probiotics reduce stress by decreasing the level of stress hormones [10].

Dangerous interactions

Even someone who has been using higher doses of benzodiazepines and has developed a high tolerance can suffer an overdose after using clonazolam just one time. Clonazolam is a benzodiazepine derivative, or designer benzodiazepine. This means it is created solely to produce euphoria in those who practice recreational drug use. It mimics the effects of prescription benzodiazepines but is considered a research chemical with no accepted medical use.

This is more likely if the drug is consumed in liquid form or if it is snorted. Snorting clonazolam tends to cause extended, often multiple day blackouts. Overdosing on clonazolam can lead to respiratory depression and death. Most benzodiazepines have similar effects — what makes them different are things like potency, duration of effects, and onset time. High doses of GABAergics, including clonazolam, can cause intoxicating effects similar to alcohol or GHB, as well as memory loss and disinhibition.

Their doctor may be trying to wean them off the drug, but they may have cravings making it hard for them to reduce their dosage. Because clonazolam is so addictive, these people can become strongly addicted to the drug in a relatively short period of time. For example, in Poland, a 26-year-old woman consumed clonazolam powder to try and get to sleep because she was coughing due to bronchitis. Designer benzodiazepines are drugs in the benzodiazepine group that have been manufactured by altering certain chemical structures of the approved and controlled benzodiazepine group of drugs. Since clonazolam is also derived from clonazepam and alprazolam, it is classified as a designer benzodiazepine.

Clonazolam can cause both physical and mental side effects that can last for a few hours. These can include loss of physical coordination, resulting in falls, slowed reflexes, and trouble thinking clearly. All of these can lead to a risk of physical injury while under the effects of the drug. This means it kicks in quickly and doesn’t last more than about 4 hours (usually closer to 2 or 3). Alcohol and other sedatives, such as opioids and antihistamines, can aggravate the sedative effects of clonazolam and can result in deep sleep or coma. So, it is better to avoid these medicines and alcohol while consuming clonazolam.

Often when someone thinks they are purchasing Valium or some other benzodiazepine, they are actually getting Clonazolam. Urine drug screens cannot differentiate between the triazolobenzodiazepine and a regular benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines (sometimes called “benzos”) are prescription tranquilizers and sedatives that are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. They work to calm or help a person sleep by raising the level of neurotransmitter GABA in the brain.

Considered a “designer drug,” is solid through illicit retailers, often online. In some cases, people ingest clonazolam because they were trying to get an approved benzodiazepine on the black market. Also, in some cases people get addicted to prescribed benzodiazepines and want more.

Clonazolam was first synthesized in 1971 but was not licensed for therapeutic use. It’s never been approved by the US Food and Drug Association (FDA) and is considered a Schedule I drug in a few states, like Virginia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oregon, and Minnesota. Sedatives like clonazolam are respiratory depressants that can slow or stop your breathing. Gallus also offers a unique outpatient benzodiazepine taper support program with medical supervision, MD visits, and individualized therapy. While there are some important uses for benzodiazepines, Carleton notes that “daily use as a way to manage anxiety or other mood-related issues is not one of them”. A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Long has been a writer for Landmark Recovery since 2021.