Some people develop an addiction to clonazepam, a drug that is classified as a benzodiazepine, also known as a benzo. The drug, which is administered to treat anxiety, may also be prescribed to prevent or control seizures.
While the drug has been shown to successfully treat anxiety or panic attacks, people who take the drug can easily develop an addiction. Also known as Klonopin, clonazepam can be habit-forming even when it is prescribed short-term. In fact, a person can develop an addiction in only a two week span of time. However, if the benzo is used as prescribed, patients who experience seizures or have problems with anxiety often realize good results.
Still, that does not mitigate the drug’s dangers. The drug creates such a relaxed feeling for some users that they don’t want to part with it. Therefore, they often struggle with quitting, as they don’t feel like they can function without taking the medicine.
Some of the Symptoms of an Addiction
People who depend on clonazepam often gain weight and continue to use it even when they experience symptoms, such as drowsiness, dizziness, fainting spells, impaired thinking, or slowed reaction times.
Therefore, it is important that users of clonazepam taper the use of the drug through medical intervention. This is one drug you cannot quit on your own. You need to be medically supervised during the withdrawal process. Because users feel totally at ease from taking the drug, it’s an experience they don’t want to give up.
Because of this feeling of calm euphoria, they often lose interest in their daily obligations or may experience issues financially and legally. An addiction begins when a user starts developing a tolerance to the drug. As time progresses, they require increasingly larger doses to get the same as high as they did from taking the drug in smaller quantities.
A False Feeling of Security
Some people get addicted because they think taking the substance is less harmful because it is prescribed. However, the anti-anxiety medicine can, in some cases, be even more dangerous as the patient can become addicted in a very short time.
While the drug was originally formulated to treat epileptics, its calming effects have been recognized in treating panic attacks as well as easing the symptoms of drug and alcohol withdrawal. Sometimes doctors write prescriptions for the medicine for people who have problems with sleeping.
Seeking Rehab Treatment
The drug is administered in tablet form and quickly dissolves on the tongue. Besides Klonopin, clonazepam tablets may be called tranks, K-pins, or downers. Regardless of the drug’s name, this medication is not something to take lightly. If you or a loved one develops a dependence, you need to seek medical help in a rehab facility.
By following a medically supervised plan of detox. a clonazepam addict can receive around-the-clock medical care while toxins are flushed from their body. Detox medicines help alleviate symptoms so the patient can overcome his or her psychological need for the drug.
Drugs are used to help ease withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, tension, stomach or muscle cramping, irritation, sleeplessness, headaches, tremors, and dysphoria.
Once a patient gets through detox, they can focus on revamping their life and making healthier choices both personally and professionally.