Klonopin Rehab
Many people are being prescribed Klonopin because it is a drug that treats several very different conditions, such as seizures or anxiety. Generally, people do not become dependent on Klonopin because they are only taking the drug for a short period of time. It’s when they ingest the drug for much longer periods that an addiction has a chance to develop.
Konopin is a drug meant to be taken by prescription only that is, unfortunately, often abused because of its ability to cause euphoria when taken in large doses. Many individuals who misuse Klonopin experience issues with addiction and require intensive rehab treatment in order to recover.
Call 888-414-2380 (Who Answers?) today to find safe, effective treatment for Klonopin addiction and abuse.
Who Needs Klonopin Rehab?
According to the National Library of Medicine, Klonopin is the brand name of the drug clonazepam, a benzodiazepine commonly used “alone or in combination with other medications to control certain types of seizures” anxiety disorders, and panic attacks. Many people actually begin to abuse the drug after taking it as prescribed because they like the way it makes them feel, while others may start misusing the medication without a doctor’s prescription in the first place.
Like most drugs of this type, Klonopin can cause severe addiction syndromes that take hold very quickly. Any individual who is abusing the drug should seek help in order to ensure that they can safely put an end to their misuse and be treated for any side effects, including addiction. Abuse of a drug like Klonopin usually falls into several different categories, including:
- Taking the medication without a doctor’s prescription
- Taking more of the medication than prescribed
- Taking it more often than prescribed
- Taking it in a different way than prescribed
- Taking it with alcohol to intensify its effects
All of these behaviors are extremely dangerous and can lead to addiction, which requires treatment. If you or someone you know has been misusing Klonopin, it is important to seek help.
Signs and Symptoms of Klonopin Abuse
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, “Benzodiazepines are depressants that produce sedation, induce sleep, relieve anxiety and muscle spasms, and prevent seizures.” Therefore, taking them in large doses can cause enjoyable effects, including relaxation, drowsiness, and euphoria. As stated by the Center for Substance Abuse Research, people who are high on these drugs will also exhibit other signs and symptoms, including
- Impaired motor coordination
- Fatigue
- Lethargy
- Confusion
- Depression
- Altered vision
- Slurred speech and stuttering
- Vertigo
- Tremors
- Respiratory depression
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Abdominal discomfort
- Loss of appetite
Individuals who abuse benzodiazepines also put themselves at serious risk of respiratory depression, which occurs when the person takes large doses of the drug. This can result in an overdose, which may cause the individual to stop breathing completely and to die. If you believe someone has overdosed on Klonopin, call 911 immediately.
In addition, drugs in this class can build up in an individual’s system if they have been abusing large amounts over a long period of time. This can lead to prolonged bouts of
- Impaired thinking
- Disorientation
- Confusion
- Slurred speech
- Muscle weakness
Many people who abuse drugs like Klonopin in the long-term experience issues with depression, anxiety, and worsening seizures. Also, the withdrawal effects associated with all benzodiazepines can be life threatening, and according to the medical journal Addiction, they can include:
- Sleep disturbance
- Irritability
- Increased tension and anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Hand tremor
- Sweating
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dry heaving and nausea
- Weight loss
- Palpitations
- Headache
- Muscular pain and stiffness
- Seizures
- Temporary psychosis, resulting in
- Hallucinations
- Depersonalization
- Severe confusion
- Paranoia
- Fear
A Success Story
An example of someone famous who has become addicted to Klonopin is Stevie Nicks. She went into treatment for a cocaine addiction and successfully completed detoxification for this drug. At the time, she began to complain of feeling stressed, and her physician prescribed the drug Klonopin. Klonopin began to take over her life as she sought to take more and more of this drug. It made it so that she didn’t want to leave her house and did not desire to return to work. Rather than be productive, she spent her time watching television and eating junk food between doses of Klonopin.
Stevie Nicks has beaten her addiction to Klonopin as well with the help of a treatment program. She is one of those who are susceptible to dependence on substances, but she has managed to keep any new addictions at bay. She is a good example for others who find themselves in the same predicament because she is someone who faced her addiction to Klonopin and won the battle.
How Klonopin becomes an Addiction
Klonopin attaches itself to the body’s receptors, and the result is that the brain emits more chemicals than it does ordinarily. This causes patients taking this medication to feel a greater response than they do without the drug. The body fights this increased response to this drug because it likes to remain stable most of the time. It does this by reducing the sensitivity the receptors feel for the body’s chemicals, and this is the reason that people must take stronger and stronger doses of their medications to elicit the same earlier feelings of well-being.
The Dangers of a Klonopin Addiction
After abusing Klonopin in the manner described above for a long period of time, the body develops a physical dependency for the drug. The body is accustomed to having this substance in its system, and it expects to be given its regular dose of the medicine every day. If addicts fail to obtain their daily fix, the body will try to return itself to the state it was in before the patient started to take Klonopin in the first place, but this can cause the following side effects:
- Feelings of anxiousness
- Sleeplessness
- Weight loss
- Seizures
The severe withdrawal symptoms listed above will only be experienced by those who have taken the drug for longer than four months at high doses. These symptoms can terrify addicts when they begin to notice them, and this is great motivation for taking the medication again. Because they never want to suffer from the withdrawal symptoms ever, Klonopin addicts may believe that they can never stop taking this drug.
Help for Klonopin Addicts
Klonopin addicts do not have to feel this hopeless. They will not be able to detoxify their systems without going through withdrawal from this drug, but they will be able to detox in a safe environment. In a rehab treatment center, the medical professionals may decide to give Klonopin addicts lower and lower doses of the drug as they go along. Substance abuse professionals use this approach when they believe an addict would experience life-threatening seizures. Once safely out of detox, Klonopin addicts can begin attending therapy sessions.
Counseling is instrumental in helping people with their Klonopin addictions. The Klonopin may have been prescribed to help patients manage their anxieties, but therapy in a rehab setting offers them an opportunity to explore the reasons that they have these anxieties in the first place. They will learn positive behaviors for coping with these anxieties, and they will be prescribed a more appropriate medication if it is needed.
Klonopin addicts will be introduced to several types of therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy and motivational therapy. The treatment center that has the right combination of medication and therapy exists for each person struggling with a Klonopin addiction.
Treatments for Klonopin Abuse and Addiction
Klonopin addiction needs to be treated safely in a rehab center that can cater to the needs of the patient. In many cases, the withdrawal syndrome must be treated first so the patient can safely recover from its effects and avoid any serious symptoms. This is called the detox process, and medications may be used to treat the individual’s symptoms. Antipsychotics, antidepressants, and other benzodiazepines used to sedate the patient and minimize withdrawal symptoms may all be necessary. However, detox alone is not a treatment for addiction.
Normally, once the patient is stable after their withdrawal is treated, they will be treated for Klonopin addiction and its effects with behavioral therapies. Some of the most popular options for benzodiazepine addiction treatment include
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: a therapy program where patients learn to recognize dangerous situations that could lead to relapse, avoid negative behavior, and practice positive life skills that lead to a strong recovery
- CBT focuses specifically on the patient’s learned behaviors that have led to addiction and replacing them with better behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, and skills for the future.
- Contingency management: a therapy program that is most effective in outpatient care and allows patients to receive a reward every time they pass a drug test
- Group therapy: a therapy program that provides patients with the ability to relate to other individuals who are suffering from the same substance use disorders they are and to build a stronger support system
- Family therapy: a therapy program that helps mend relationships between patients and their family members and also uncovers enabling behaviors
- Family therapy is also extremely effective for the treatment of adolescent patients, who receive enormous benefits when their family members are involved in their rehab and recovery.
- 12-step facilitation therapy: a therapy program that prepares patients for participation in a support group that utilizes the 12-step method
- 12-step facilitation therapy focuses on the three aspects of the 12-step process that are the most important (and often the most misunderstood), including
- Acceptance
- Surrender
- Participation
- 12-step facilitation therapy focuses on the three aspects of the 12-step process that are the most important (and often the most misunderstood), including
Patients may also want to attend support groups like the 12-step programs mentioned above or holistic treatments while in rehab. Many rehab programs provide these optional treatments to patients who want them, and they can also be very effective in helping those who have suffered from severe benzodiazepine abuse and addiction.
Additional issues may need to be addressed and treated as a part of rehab as well, including
- Financial problems: Many individuals suffer from financial issues as a result of their substance abuse, and certain rehab centers may provide counseling or vocational help for a patient who has lost their job to Klonopin addiction.
- Polydrug addiction: If a person has been abusing Klonopin consistently with other drugs, chances are they are suffering from an additional addiction syndrome. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, it is, unfortunately, very popular for substance users to abuse benzodiazepines with alcohol, so many rehab centers will need to treat alcohol addiction along with Klonopin addiction.
- Comorbid mental disorders: Many people who begin abusing Klonopin and other benzodiazepines suffer from comorbid mental disorders because they were being treated for one in the first place. However, the abuse of the drug can also intensify or cause psychological disorders to occur.
- According to the NIDA, all patients in rehab for addiction must be screened for these disorders. If they happen to be suffering from a mood or another type of psychological disorder, they will need to be treated for it simultaneously with their addiction in order to safely recover from both.
How Do I Choose the Right Klonopin Rehab Program?
One can either choose to attend inpatient or outpatient care for addiction rehab. While inpatient care is more intensive and provides patients a place to stay during their recoveries, outpatient care is less so and patients only visit the facility when necessary (usually once a day at first and then less as their need diminishes).
The American Journal on Drug and Alcohol Abuse states, “A flexible treatment program utilizing both inpatient and outpatient treatment with a focus on reducing attrition is most likely to maximize effectiveness,” but it is also important to consider your specific needs for care. Benzodiazepines like Klonopin can cause severe withdrawal effects without warning, so you will likely be safer if you choose to begin your recovery in an inpatient program. Other reasons you might need inpatient care is if you
- Are suffering from a comorbid disorder
- Do not feel safe at home
- Do not have a strong social support network at home
- Believe you will be likely to relapse if you are not in a controlled environment
Once you attend inpatient care and become more stable, outpatient treatment is often a beneficial option for aftercare. But when choosing a rehab program, it is important to take your needs into account and consider how severe your condition is. In addition, you may also require or want other treatment options that only an inpatient or luxury rehab center can provide. Choosing the best treatment option is all about considering what you require from your rehab facility and its treatment program.
How Can I Find Klonopin Rehab Centers?
Klonopin abuse can quickly lead to addiction as well as a number of other serious and potentially life threatening effects. Therefore, seeking treatment for this substance use disorder is the safest way to recover, and we can help you find safe, reliable rehab programs that will cater to your needs.
Just call 888-414-2380 (Who Answers?) now to speak to one of our treatment advisors and to begin your journey of recovery today.