Every drug addict fears the inescapable symptoms of withdrawal that begin the journey of recovery. Klonopin withdrawal takes a toll on the body and mind.

But, it costs significantly less than the consequences of continuing the addiction. Detox facilities will help you through once you make the decision to improve your life.

Are you ready to take the leap? Then let’s look at the ins and outs of Klonopin withdrawal and detox.

What Causes Klonopin Withdrawal?

Klonopin, which is a benzodiazepine, works synergistically with our neurotransmitter GABA. GABA regulates nerve impulses through the brain. Over time, the brain learns to depend on the drug to perpetuate these effects, thus reducing normal GABA production.

Reducing GABA levels means hindering our brain’s ability to prevent overstimulation and to self soothe. So, Klonopin withdrawal happens due to the drug altering natural production in the body.

Klonopin Withdrawal Symptoms

Suddenly eliminating the brain’s ability to control nerve impulses properly creates a host of unpleasant symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Excessive sweating
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Insomnia
  • Hallucinations
  • Mental confusion
  • Hostile behavior
  • Tachycardia
  • Panic attacks
  • Increased basal body temperature
  • Hand tremors
  • Difficulty with muscle coordination and fine motor control
  • Seizures
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Catatonia

People may experience withdrawal differently. The severity depends on the amount of the drug taken, the duration of the addiction, and biological factors.

If the person started Klonopin with a doctor’s prescription for insomnia or anxiety, they may also experience a rebound of their condition. Seeking out benzodiazepine addiction treatmentright away will help ensure a safe and more comfortable detox.

Duration of Klonopin Withdrawal

Like the symptoms experienced, the onset of symptoms and duration of withdrawal can vary from person to person. We’ll look at the average timeline for withdrawal symptoms.

Klonopin Withdrawal Timeline

Klonopin withdrawal typically starts one to three days after taking the last dose of the drug. For about two to four days, the person may experience early withdrawal symptoms. During this time, they’ll mostly experience rebound anxiety and insomnia.

The withdrawal peak, when symptoms will feel the most overwhelming, occurs around two weeks after stopping Klonopin use. This time, referred to as acute withdrawal, typically lasts for anywhere from one week to an entire month.

Once this period ends, most of the withdrawal symptoms will subside. However, this does not mean that the withdrawal or addiction are completely over.

Many recovering Klonopin addicts experience some of the psychological symptoms, like mood changes and anxiety, insomnia, and drug cravings for several years. These symptoms and cravings can come on unannounced and hinder the person’s recovery if not properly addressed immediately.

Detoxing from Klonopin on Your Own

As you can see, Klonopin detox creates a series of extremely unpleasant symptoms that can last for quite a while. If you do choose to detox on your own, you should know how to properly quit and understand the dangers involved in doing so.

You should never try to quit any benzodiazepine addiction cold turkey. The changes your drug use created in your brain will take time to readjust and your body cannot handle the sudden stop.

Weaning off Klonopin requires a tapering schedule. When making your Klonopin tapering schedule, experts recommend reducing your current dose by less than 5 to 10% every two to four weeks.

Usually, people will cut the pill amount by a quarter each week. However, many doctors fear that this does not allow the body enough time to adjust the GABA production.

Detoxing from Klonopin can kill you. You risk dehydration and hyperthermia as your body attempts to reach its old equilibrium.

Your pulse, respiration, and blood pressure can also rapidly change to dangerous levels during withdrawal. This puts you at risk for respiratory failure, heart attack, and stroke.

Rarely, the drop in GABA that your body experiences can put you into a catatonic state. Arguably worse than death, this makes sufferers immobile and puts them into a state of stupor, unable to talk or function.

For these reasons, you should think carefully before choosing to detox on your own.

Medical Detox for Klonopin

Seeking out detoxing help from an addiction treatment center significantly reduces the risks of withdrawal from any drug. Plus, medical staff can help keep you more comfortable as your body adjusts.

How Medical Detox Works and What to Expect

Medical detox helps the patient eliminate the drug from their system with around-the-clock monitoring. A medical detox staff consists of nurses and doctors to assist the patient in coping with withdrawal safely and comfortably.

If you enter a medical detox center, you can expect inpatient treatment at a hospital or detox center. The staff will provide 24-hour care to monitor your vitals. They may medicate you to ease your symptoms without prolonging the detoxification process.

Under this type of supervision, you can expect to detox for about five to 10 days.

The center will help with more than your symptoms. They’ll help you choose a program that your health insurance covers for detox and subsequent rehabilitation.

Medications Available for Klonopin Detox

You may require medications during your detoxification. These may include:

  • Nausea medications, such as Zofran
  • Low-risk sleep aids, such as Unisom
  • Antianxiety medications with lower abuse potential, like Hydroxyzine
  • Analgesic or NSAID medications to regulate muscle pain and fever
  • Tapering levels of gabapentin, until your body can readjust

Your care team will decide which of these medications you do and don’t need, based on your symptoms and vital signs. You may also require other medications for more severe withdrawal. The medical staff will give you the best care possible.