How Addictive Is Klonopin?
All benzodiazepines have a great risk of tolerance, dependence, and addiction, but Klonopin, the brand name for clonazepam, is among the most addictive.1 This anti-anxiety medication has two components that make it a prime target for people struggling with drug addiction: a rapid onset of action and a long half-life.2
Klonopin enters the bloodstream and makes its way to the brain in an hour, while it can remain in the system for close to 3 days, depending on the size of the dose (the half-life is between 18-39 hours).
The Addiction Potential of Benzodiazepines
Klonopin is often diverted for nonmedical use and sold illegally. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers all benzodiazepines to be Schedule IV drugs, meaning they are safe with a prescription and medical oversight; however, there is potential for misuse.
This has created a “shadow epidemic,” according to one study, which found that prescriptions for all benzodiazepines quadrupled in the 11-year period studied.3 Adults between the ages of 18 and 64 were the primary recipients of these prescriptions; thousands of people could struggle with addiction or dependence due to a prescription for these medications. The larger number of prescriptions means that the drugs are often the target of theft since they are easy to find.
Since Klonopin and other benzodiazepines act on GABA receptors, there is some cross-tolerance with alcohol, which also affects GABA receptors. Prior to the 20th century, alcohol and opioids—sometimes in combination—were used to treat anxiety; once benzodiazepines were invented, this new class of medications was believed to be less addictive.4
However, because Klonopin’s effects set in quickly, the body rapidly develops a tolerance to and dependence on this substance. As a result, it is important to take Klonopin only as prescribed and for no longer than two weeks.
Klonopin and Overdose
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that benzodiazepines, including Klonopin, were involved in 17% of opioid overdose deaths in one study.5 For the most part, Klonopin and other benzodiazepines are misused alongside opioids, alcohol, or both because they enhance the relaxing euphoria and take the edge off withdrawal symptoms. Mixing drugs increases the risk of overdose, since the mixture typically increases the potency of all the drugs involved; especially with a high-dose, long-acting drug like Klonopin, overdose becomes very likely.
While Klonopin has been mixed with alcohol and opioid drugs, even taking benzodiazepines alone have a high risk for misuse, and people who have a history of substance misuse and addiction are at a greater risk of developing an addiction to Klonopin due to the GABA receptors’ changes to the brain’s reward system.6 If a person with a history of substance misuse receives a prescription for Klonopin, their doctor should carefully monitor them for any symptoms of addiction.
Getting Help for Addiction
If you or someone you love struggle with benzodiazepine (or other substance) use or addiction, American Addiction Centers (AAC) can help. AAC operates treatment centers throughout the United States, offers the complete continuum of care and provides evidence-based therapies and individualized treatment plans. Reach out to connect with a knowledgeable and compassionate admissions navigator, who can listen to your story, answer your questions, explain your options, and help you find a path to recovery.
