Clonazepam is a prescription medication that functions in the brain as a benzodiazepine receptor agonist, often proving to be an effective short-term treatment for disorders ranging from epilepsy and seizures to panic attacks, anxiety and mania.
As is the case with all drugs in the benzodiazepine family, long-term use often leads to dependency or full addiction. One third of patients who use the drug (which is also known as Klonopin) for more than four weeks will develop a dependency on it.
Signs of clonazepam dependence include the following symptoms:
- Lack of coordination
- Dizziness
- Slurred speech
- Lethargy
- Low blood pressure
- Depression
- Intense mood changes
- Confusion
Clonazepam Abuse and Withdrawal
Clonazepam has become a popular recreational drug with teenagers and college students who purchase pills from drug dealers or steal them from parents and grandparents. When combined with other drugs or alcohol the effect is intensified and the risks are highly elevated.
Most addicts, however, had the medication prescribed legitimately by a physician but either took more than the recommended dosage or took it for a longer time than prescribed. Once a tolerance, dependency or addiction is developed, potentially severe withdrawal symptoms will set in when the drug leaves the person’s brain.
Clonazepam withdrawal symptoms include the following:
- Seizure
- Hallucination
- Aggression
- Tremors
- Muscle pain and cramping
- Insomnia
In cases of extended abuse withdrawal symptoms can last for years or even a lifetime.
Find Rehab Centers for Clonazepam Abuse Today
If you or someone you know has developed a dependency or addiction to clonazepam it is crucial that professional help is enlisted as soon as possible. Detox is best handled gradually, with close supervision by experts who can watch for and mitigate serious or life-threatening side effects and withdrawal symptoms. Psychological dependency is also frequently treated with therapy, behavioral modification and education. Help is available. Don’t surrender any more of your life to addiction.