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If you take clonazepam for any extended period of time, you will likely have to detox from the drug. You don’t have to be addicted to experience withdrawal symptoms. You only have to be dependent. Clonazepam dependence can develop even if you take the drug exactly as prescribed.
BBC News1 explains, “The recommended maximum time for which benzodiazepines should be prescribed is four weeks.”
If you take clonazepam, a benzodiazepine, for any reason, you are at risk for dependence. If you take it too often, in too large of doses, or without a prescription at all, dependence develops faster. Once you are dependent on clonazepam, you need help to quit. Ending use on your own is dangerous and typically leads to a return to drug use. Ending use with the help of a professional team and treatment program ensures you stay safe and gives you a solid foundation for lifelong recovery.
How Does Detox Begin?
Detox begins as soon as you stop taking a drug. Your body grows used to clonazepam’s presence. It adjusts so that it functions normally when certain doses of the drug are present. When that amount of drug isn’t present, the body has to redefine “normal” again. It does so naturally and on its own, but it cannot do so instantly. While it readjusts, you will experience withdrawal symptoms.
Clonazepam withdrawal symptoms may include the following:
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Sweating
- Inability to concentrate
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Muscle pain
Some people may experience even more serious side effects such as seizures. The severity and type of withdrawal symptoms depends on how long you have been taking the drug. It depends on how much you have been taking. It depends on your overall health, genetics, and environment. Dependence, addiction, and detox involve many factors. There is no way to predict exactly how and when addiction will begin. There is no way to predict exactly when detox will end. Just know that it does end.
The pain and discomfort can be managed with medical support. You will feel better. In fact, if you choose treatment for dependence and addiction, you can feel even better than you did before you started taking clonazepam and other drugs. Addiction treatment helps you develop new coping skills. It helps you better understand yourself and the world around you. Integrated treatment ensures you receive appropriate mental health care at the same time you receive addiction treatment.
Ryan’s Story
“I may have lost everything, but I still have hope. I don’t want to throw my life away, and want whoever reads this to know you’re not alone. Help is right around the corner; you just have to be ready to accept it. This isn’t something you can do on your own.” Ryan F. of Heroes in Recovery
When Does Clonazepam Detox End?
The sooner you find and begin clonazepam treatment, the sooner detox ends. Detox is not an overnight process. Promises of rapid or rushed detox are false promises. Your body will heal at the rate it will heal. Doing detox right may seem slow at first, but it is ultimately the fastest method. It leads to the greatest long-term success. Medical supervision and support makes the process safer and more effective. Medicine2 explains, “The keystones of management of benzodiazepine withdrawal are slow tapering of the dose and psychological support for the patient.”
Recovery professionals help you develop a treatment plan. They monitor your current health and any withdrawal symptoms. They create a taper schedule that can be adjusted for a balance between comfort and recovery progress. Most importantly choosing medical detox services means immediate psychological, social, and emotional support for recovery as well.
Find professional support to transition seamlessly from detox to therapy. Address all aspects of addiction by choosing ongoing recovery support for physical, mental, and emotional health. Detox provides immediate freedom from clonazepam. Continued care ensures you can keep that freedom.
Where Do I Find Clonazepam Detox Support?
If you or a loved one is thinking about ending clonazepam use, call Black Bear Lodge at 855-808-6212. We can explain the detox process.
We offer free initial assessments to help you determine and understand your unique recovery needs. We offer medically supervised detox services, personalized care, and integrated addiction and mental health treatment. Learn more about what we offer. Learn more about your options for a drug-free future.
Sources
1 Brocklehurst, Steven. “The ‘Hell’ of My Prescription Drug Withdrawal.” BBC News. 29 Jun. 2017. Accessed 4 Jul. 2017.
2 Kacirova I, Grundmann M, Silhan P, Brozmanova H. “A Case Report of Clonazepam Dependence: Utilization of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring During Withdrawal Period.” Medicine. 7 Sep. 2016. Accessed 5 Jul. 2017.