We all want to find moments of peace. We want to balance our busy, hectic, and even stressful lives with relaxation. This isn’t easy for anyone. It becomes even harder if you also struggle with depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues. You may be tempted to turn to a drug like Klonopin. It may seem like an easy way to escape or feel good.

However Klonopin ultimately only adds to your stress. It has immediate, short- and long-term health risks that complicate your physical and mental health. It takes away from your quality of life without providing any real, lasting answers.

Immediate Effects of Klonopin Use

Klonopin is a brand name for clonazepam. It is a benzodiazepine drug. Klonopin works by suppressing central nervous system activity. It makes the neurotransmitters and receptors responsible for calming mind and body more effective. This can help individuals who struggle with panic attacks, seizures, and other medical and mental health conditions. However positive immediate effects are balanced by negative ones.

You may experience the following:

  • Confusion
  • Sleepiness
  • Dizziness
  • Amnesia
  • Poor motor coordination
  • Severe allergic reactions (breathing difficulties, hives, a choking sensation, etc.)

Some users experience severe psychological side effects such as hallucinations or delusions after taking too much Klonopin. Because clonazepam can slow motor function, taking too much of this medication increases your risk of an accidental fall, drowning or motor vehicle accident. One of the greatest immediate dangers of Klonopin abuse is overdose. Klonopin can slow breathing, heart rate, and other essential body functions to dangerously low levels. When you use Klonopin with other benzodiazepines, opiates, or alcohol, the risk of overdose increases.

Benzodiazepine drugs like Klonopin are meant for short-term or as-needed use. The longer you take these drugs, the greater your risk of becoming physically or psychologically dependent. The longer you take them, the more likely to you are to become addicted or experience other serious side effects. Short-term risks quickly lead to long-term consequences.

 

Long-Term Risks

Klonopin calms the central nervous system by altering the way your brain processes GABA, a neurochemical that induces feelings of relaxation, drowsiness and tranquility. Long-term Klonopin use interferes with your brain’s natural response to GABA. You come to rely on Klonopin to feel “normal,” even as other side effects accumulate. This is just one of many early signs of addiction. If you feel you need Klonopin or that you don’t feel right without it, consider reaching out for early help. The sooner you take action, the sooner you can find real balance and mental health management.

Long-term Klonopin use puts mental health at risk. Although short-term use can aid in mental health management, it does not provide lasting solutions.

Continued use leads to increased mental health concerns. ABC News1 shares a study that found, “Patients taking [benzodiazepines] had about twice the risk of suicidal behavior compared with patients taking a placebo.”

Since individuals struggling with anxiety and addiction often also face depression, this increased risk should be taken seriously. Individuals who need a prescription should carefully monitor use and mood. Individuals using Klonopin without a prescription should consider various therapeutic alternatives.

Long-term Klonopin use also affects memory. BMJ2 explains, “Benzodiazepine use is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease…Unwarranted long term use of these drugs should be considered as a public health concern.” The effects of long-term Klonopin use are serious enough to warrant a need for public action. Addiction is more than an individual disease. It affects families and communities. It affects you now and long into the future. Ending Klonopin and other drug use gives you the opportunity to restore and protect your mental and physical health. It gives you the opportunity to develop real coping skills and build a joyful, enjoyable, and drug-free life.

Ending the Health Risks of Klonopin Abuse

Black Bear Lodge, a secluded treatment facility in northern Georgia, offers a quiet haven for recovery. We understand benzodiazepine addiction and the importance of individual, integrated addiction care.  Our personalized rehab programs help you realize your dream of a healthy, sober life. Call our toll-free number, 706-914-2327, to find out how you can find freedom.

Sources

1 Reinberg, Steve. “FDA Adds Suicide Warning to Epilepsy Drugs.” Healthday.com. 16 Dec. 2008. Accessed 26 Jul. 2017.

2 Billioti de Gage, Sophie; Moride, Yola; Ducruet, Thierry; Kurth, Tobias; Verdoux, Hélène; Tournier Marie. “Benzodiazepine Use and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease.” BMJ. 4 Aug. 2014. Accessed 26 Jul. 2017.