What is Clonazepam?
Clonazepam is a commonly abused prescription drug known as benzodiazepine. This substance is usually prescribed to help treat certain seizure disorders and panic disorders, specifically agoraphobia, in adults and children. Clonazepam helps these conditions by enhancing the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. It slows the receptors in the brain, resulting in a tranquil state and soothing symptoms of mental illness. Clonazepam is a round pill that looks white, green, yellow or orange in color. The whole pill is taken orally.
Brand names of other benzodiazepines are:
- Xanax, or Alprazolam: FDA approved to treat panic disorders and anxiety disorders
- Valium, or Diazepam: Used to treat panic attacks, seizures, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and alcohol withdrawal
- Librium, or Chlordiazepoxide: Used to treat alcohol withdrawal
- Estazolam: Used to treat insomnia, short-term
- Trilam: Used to treat severe insomnia
- Oxazepam: Used to treat anxiety, insomnia, or alcohol withdrawal
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Clonazepam Effects
Just like any other prescription drug, there are side effects associated with taking clonazepam. According to Drugs.com, more common symptoms may include:
- drowsiness, dizziness
- feeling tired or depressed
- memory problems
- problems with walking or coordination.
More severe side effects of clonazepam use may include:
- new or worsening seizures
- severe drowsiness
- weak or shallow breathing
- unusual changes in mood or behavior
- confusion, paranoia, nightmares, hallucinations
- thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself
- unusual or involuntary eye movements
Signs of Clonazepam Abuse and Addiction
Developing an addiction to prescription drugs like clonazepam is easier than expected. Mistakenly misusing or mistaking a substance can turn disastrous, but those with a history of drug and alcohol abuse are more susceptible. Someone who is abusing benzodiazepines and has developed a psychological dependence may start to act differently. If you or someone you know displays two or more of the following symptoms, a substance abuse disorder may be present:
- Needing to take more to achieve the same effects
- Impaired performance at work, school, or home
- Spending a considerable amount of time trying to get the drug, use, and recover from it
- Cutting themselves off from friends or family in order to use Benzos
- Craving the drug
- Intentionally misusing Benzos for intoxication or pleasure
- Decreased motivation or productivity
Physical dependence, which is different than psychological dependence, may cause the following addiction affects:
- Physical weakness
- Slurred speech
- Loss of coordination
- Aggression
- Irritability
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Difficulty breathing
- Tremors
- Coma
Clonazepam Withdrawal Symptoms
Once you choose to begin drug addiction rehab at this addiction treatment center, detox is your first step. Drug detox fully cleanses the body of clonazepam, and, depending on the severity of the addiction, could take up to a few weeks. Medically assisted detox may use various drugs to help soothe withdrawal symptoms for a more comfortable time. Each substance affects the body differently, but clonazepam withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Blurred vision
- Nightmare
- Depression
- Tremors or spasms
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
Long-Term Side Effects of Clonazepam Abuse
Prolonged substance abuse causes a person to develop a tolerance. When a tolerance is developed, users must take more and more to achieve the desired effect. This is one of the ways in which a clonazepam addiction begins. Over time, drug abuse chemically alters the brain and neurological pathways; it struggles to function normally without clonazepam.
Long-term use can cause physical and psychological dependence, resulting in difficult withdrawal symptoms that could be life-threatening. Because of this, it is highly recommended that patients seek out treatment at a rehab center to help treat the symptoms caused by long-term effects.
Clonazepam Addiction Treatment
When starting a clonazepam addiction treatment program, a medically assisted drug detox at a recovery center is the first step. Cleansing drugs from the system under the watchful eye of physicians and doctors makes withdrawal symptoms easier to manage. After detox and a physical and mental evaluation, a personalized treatment plan can be created and utilized.
There are two different branches of addiction treatment programs: inpatient programs and outpatient programs. Inpatient programs require patients to stay in a treatment center for the long term. Residential treatment is the most attentive and effective means of dealing with severe drug and alcohol addictions. Intensive outpatient rehab treatment programs allow for a more flexible version of drug addiction treatments where patients attend rehab during the day. At this treatment center, partial hospitalization programs are also an option. This is a more intensive drug addiction treatment including family therapy, group therapy, individual therapy, behavioral therapy, twelve step programs and relapse prevention.
Regardless of the substance abuse treatment program, addiction therapy is a big part of substance abuse treatments. Different forms of addiction therapy, like family therapy, individual therapy, behavioral therapy, twelve step programs, trauma-focused therapy and more, will provide you the tools needed to address mental illness, substance abuse, co-occurring disorders and daily triggers. Inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab and partial hospitalization programs help patients prepare for sober living.
Our Clonazepam addiction treatment center provides comprehensive dual diagnosis addiction treatment through a multitude of Clonazepam addiction treatment programs and addiction therapy services. Upon your admission into a Clonazepam addiction treatment center, our addiction treatment professionals will determine the unique underlying mental health conditions that cause your addiction to Clonazepam . Our addiction therapy services and addiction treatment programs in California include:
