Klonopin is the brand name for the drug clonazepam. It is part of the benzodiazepines group of drugs and it affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety. It is also used to treat seizure disorders or panic disorder.
It is also often prescribed to treat epilepsy, insomnia, rapid eye movement behavior disorder, restless leg syndrome (RLS), chronic fatigue syndrome, night terrors, Tourette’s syndrome and schizophrenia. On the street, Klonopin is known as K-pin or kiddie cocaine. The drug is available in tablets or wafers which are either swallowed or disintegrated on the tongue.
Abuses of Klonopin
Klonopin can create psychosis, even in the first use, making this the biggest draw of the drug. The drug is often available in upper and middle class homes as someone in the home may have a legitimate medical reason for a prescription of the drug. Klonopin can quickly create dependence in the user, starting a cycle of increased use to achieve the desired effect.
Abuse is common among high school students, especially since the drug is not generally screened for in standard drug tests at schools. The second most common form of drug abuse for people over the age of 55 is non medical. The problem often arises from the pro-longed use of a legitimate prescription. As one of the stronger benzodiazepines, Klinopin is easy to become dependent upon in any individual.
Effects of Klonopin
Klonopin can cause hallucinations and delusions, as well as cause a person to feel unbalanced or anxious. The drug does have the ability to cause irreversible brain damage when it is used beyond the prescribed amount or used recreationally.
Less serious but still troublesome effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, spinning sensation, memory problems, tired feeling, muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination, slurred speech, drooling or dry mouth, sore gums, runny or stuffy nose, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, blurred vision, headache, nervousness, insomnia, skin rash or weight changes.
Withdrawal of Klonopin
Cessation of Klonopin can be just as dangerous as abusing it as it can create severe and even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Cases have been reported where the impact from the sudden stop in the use of Klonopin was death. This danger makes supervised care imperative in these situations.
Any and all of the following symptoms can occur in the Klonopin withdrawal stage:
• Fever
• Hypothermia
• Palpitations
• Hair loss
• Skin rash
• Anorexia
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Urinary retention
• Dehydration
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Hysteria
• Insomnia
• Suicidal thoughts
Treatment of Klonopin Addiction
Due to the life-threatening symptoms that can arise when a patient stops taking Klonopin after long-term use or abuse, it is imperative that treatment be administered by a health care professional. Detoxification is required to cleanse the body of this drug and must be done under the care of a board-certified physician and a board-certified psychiatrist.
A quality treatment center will perform comfortable detox using withdrawal medications for Klonopin abuse, while also watching the physical reaction of the patient. A full physical on a person will be done to determine the right medications for comfortable detox. This method helps to correct the chemical imbalances in the individual and should be combined with psychological evaluations and other medical care. Such an approach helps to identify the reason for the addiction, while treating the whole person.