On This Page:

• What Is Klonopin?
• How Long Does Klonopin Stay In Your System?
• Klonopin Dependence and Withdrawal
• Signs of Klonopin Addiction
• How to Stop Using Klonopin
• Climb Your Mountain Today

What Is Klonopin?

Klonopin is the brand-name version of the benzodiazepine clonazepam. Like other “benzos,” Klonopin slows down brain activity to help people calm down during panic attacks and moments of intense anxiety. Because it can decrease abnormal electrical activity in the brain, doctors occasionally prescribe Klonopin to control certain types of seizures, Tourette’s syndrome, migraines, and restless leg syndrome. Klonopin is taken as a blue tablet or as a quick-dissolve tablet placed on the tongue.

Side-effects associated with Klonopin include the following:

• Slow speech
• Dry mouth
• Sore gums
• A loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Depression
• Headaches
• Fatigue and weakness
• Dizziness or drowsiness
• Insomnia
• Blurred vision
• Memory loss

How Long Does Klonopin Stay in Your System?

Klonopin is one of the longest-acting prescription benzodiazepines and can remain active in the body for 18 to 50 hours. In studies, however, Klonopin has been shown to stay for longer periods of time within the system.

Studies have shown Klonopin to stay in the system for the following time periods, depending on the type of testing:

• Through a urine test: For up to 1 month
• Through a hair test: For up to 28 days
• Through a saliva test: For up to 5-6 days

Klonopin Dependence and Withdrawal

Unfortunately, Klonopin can cause people to develop physical and psychological dependence in as little as 2 weeks. This means people will develop serious physical and mental symptoms, known as withdrawal symptoms when they stop using the drug.

Symptoms of Klonopin withdrawal include:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Sweating
• Tremors
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Seizures
• Psychosis
• Thoughts of suicide
• Nightmares
• Memory difficulties
• Confusion
• Insomnia

These symptoms are usually the worst 2 weeks after your last dose, but they can last for weeks or months. While dependence and withdrawal are not the same as addiction, they are telltale signs of the disease.

Signs of Klonopin Addiction

As defined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse: “Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.” Like other drug addictions, Klonopin addiction can often be identified by certain signs.

If you or someone you love has a Klonopin addiction, they may:

• Spend a lot of time seeking, using, and recovering from Klonopin “highs”
• Have multiple prescriptions and lose interest in hobbies and activities they used to enjoy
• Suffer from relationship problems and fail to meet their responsibilities
• Take greater amounts of Klonopin or continue taking it longer than originally intended
• Use Klonopin even when it results in risky situations
• Continue to use Klonopin despite worsening physical or psychological health
• Have a desire to stop taking Klonopin or reduce the amount taken, but not be able to do so
• Be using an extensive amount of time and/or resources to get and use Klonopin
• Have noticeable withdrawal symptoms when decreasing the dose of Klonopin