Klonopin, also known as clonazepam, is a benzodiazepine medication commonly prescribed for the treatment of anxiety and panic disorders Like other drugs in its class, Klonopin acts on the brain to produce a calming effect However, it also comes with a high risk for dependence and addiction. For this reason, abruptly stopping Klonopin “cold turkey” is extremely dangerous and not recommended.
What is Klonopin?
Klonopin is the brand name for clonazepam, a type of benzodiazepine prescribed to manage seizure disorders and relieve symptoms of panic attacks. It works by enhancing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that inhibits excessive activity between nerve cells in the brain. This results in reduced anxiety, relaxation of muscles, sedation, and sleepiness.
While Klonopin can be effective for short-term treatment, it also has a high potential for misuse and addiction. With prolonged use the body builds up a tolerance and requires increasing doses to achieve the same effects. Stopping suddenly can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms.
Dangers of Quitting Klonopin Cold Turkey
Quitting Klonopin “cold turkey” meaning completely stopping all at once with no tapering is extremely risky and can have serious consequences
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Increased anxiety and panic attacks: Klonopin suppresses excitability between neurons. Abruptly stopping can cause anxiety and panic attacks to rebound severely.
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Hallucinations and psychosis: Sudden withdrawal may induce sensory distortions, confusion, and loss of reality.
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Seizures: Klonopin calms electrical activity in the brain. Quitting cold turkey removes this effect and can trigger seizures, especially in those with a history of epilepsy.
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Uncontrollable shaking: Marked tremors affecting the hands, arms, legs, and body are common withdrawal symptoms.
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Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea: Stomach upset and gastrointestinal distress frequently occur.
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Heart palpitations and chest pain: Changes in heart rhythm and intense chest pain have been reported.
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Suicidal thoughts: Some individuals experience depression with suicidal ideation during Klonopin withdrawal.
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Death: Quitting cold turkey can directly cause death in several ways. Seizures can lead to accident, injury, or choking. Vomiting while disoriented or unconscious also poses a lethal choking hazard. Suicidal thoughts may be acted upon.
For these reasons, it is never recommended to stop Klonopin suddenly without medical supervision. The safest method is gradual tapering under a doctor’s care.
What is Klonopin Withdrawal Syndrome?
Klonopin withdrawal syndrome refers to the cluster of symptoms that occur when stopping chronic use of the medication. It can begin within 6-12 hours of the last dose. The intensity and duration of symptoms depend on several factors:
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Dose: Those taking higher doses experience more severe withdrawal.
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Duration: Longer-term use leads to worse symptoms upon quitting.
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Frequency: Frequent dosing increases withdrawal intensity.
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Abrupt cessation: Quitting “cold turkey” makes withdrawal worse than tapering.
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Individual variation: Genetics and health status affect withdrawal severity.
In general, Klonopin withdrawal syndrome has an onset of 6-12 hours, peaks at 2-3 days, and gradually improves over 5-7 days. However, some symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and cravings may persist for weeks to months. Always consult a doctor before attempting to stop.
Klonopin Withdrawal Timeline
The typical progression of Klonopin withdrawal is:
First 1-3 days
- Agitation, anxiety, irritability
- Trembling, muscle twitches
- Insomnia, nightmares
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Sweating, flushed skin, fever
3-5 days
- Heightened senses and sensitivity to light and sound
- Impaired concentration and memory
- Migraines and headache
- Uncontrollable shaking and tremors
- Heart palpitations, high blood pressure
5-14 days
- Depression, suicidal thoughts
- Panic attacks
- Fatigue, low energy
- Cravings for Klonopin
Post-Acute Withdrawal (PAWS)
- Mood swings
- Anxiety, insomnia
- Lack of motivation
- Inability to feel pleasure
- Cravings
PAWS may persist for months after acute withdrawal ends before fully resolving. Support groups and counseling can help immensely during protracted withdrawal.
Dangers of Tapering Too Quickly
While quitting Klonopin cold turkey is extremely dangerous, tapering too quickly can also have severe consequences:
- Intense rebound anxiety, insomnia, nausea
- Hallucinations, seizures, cardiac issues
- High likelihood of relapse
- PAWS may be more prolonged
That is why adhering to a gradual tapering schedule under medical supervision is vital for safely discontinuing Klonopin. Tapering by 10-25% every 1-2 weeks under a doctor’s direction can mitigate withdrawal symptoms. Slower tapers tend to be more successful long-term.
Seeking Medical Help for Klonopin Withdrawal
Attempting to quit Klonopin at home is risky and often unsuccessful. Medically-assisted withdrawal provides:
- A customized tapering schedule to minimize symptoms
- Monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, mental status
- Medications to treat anxiety, nausea, pain, insomnia
- Nutritional support and hydration
- Counseling and behavioral therapies
- Structure and accountability
- Prevention of complications and relapse
Inpatient medical detox facilities offer round-the-clock medical supervision for 5-7 days or longer. Outpatient programs provide services while allowing clients to live at home. Online and telehealth options are also available.
If you or a loved one has been using Klonopin regularly, do not attempt to stop on your own. Consult a doctor or addiction specialist to explore medically-assisted withdrawal options. With professional help, Klonopin withdrawal can be managed safely and effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Klonopin withdrawal last?
Acute withdrawal lasts about 5-14 days. Post-acute withdrawal can persist for weeks to months with gradually improving symptoms. Overall timelines depend on individual factors.
Can you die from Klonopin withdrawal?
Yes, abruptly stopping Klonopin can be fatal in several ways. Seizures, vomiting/choking, accidents, and suicide are possible. Always seek medical help.
What helps with Klonopin withdrawal?
A slow taper schedule, hydration, nutritional support, over-the-counter medications, prescription anxiety/anti-seizure drugs, and behavioral therapies can all help manage Klonopin withdrawal.
Can you cut a Klonopin pill in half?
Yes, Klonopin tablets can be safely split in half to aid with tapering. Always taper under medical supervision. Never cut pills without asking your doctor.
What are the first signs of Klonopin withdrawal?
Early signs of withdrawal include increased anxiety, irritability, disturbed sleep, tremors, sweating, nausea, and sensory sensitivity. Symptoms begin 6-12 hours after last use.
The Bottom Line
Quitting Klonopin “cold turkey” or too rapidly can have severe, even fatal consequences. To safely stop, adhere to a gradual tapering schedule under medical supervision. Seeking professional treatment support provides the greatest chance of success. With the proper help, Klonopin withdrawal can be navigated safely.
The Dangers of Solo Withdrawal
Individuals are more likely to encounter severe side effects during withdrawal if they try to quit taking Klonopin cold turkey. This is a dangerous, and potentially life-threatening, practice, as medical detox is required for those addicted to benzodiazepines.
Consequences of an attempted cold-turkey detox may include:
- Convulsions
- Fainting spells
- Nausea and vomiting
- Cold chills
- Excessive perspiration
- Irrational feelings about death
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
What is more worrisome is that these events could occur when a person is alone. Withdrawing from a benzodiazepine should always be done under a medical professional’s supervision in a medical detox program. Should adverse events take place without help nearby, individuals are at risk of experiencing side effects that range from mild to severe, including death. Vogue Magazine notes panic attacks, seizures, and suicidal ideation are common side effects of withdrawal from potent benzodiazepines like Klonopin.
Death may occur by way of relapse, as well. All too frequently, people don’t realize how quickly their tolerance for Klonopin decreases as they start to go through withdrawal. When day two or three rolls around and their discomfort is peaking, they may not be able to take it and will reach for their trusted substance of abuse to get them through. The problem is that the body can no longer handle the dose they had been using, and so they overdose. In 2011, emergency room visits related to the misuse or abuse of this drug reached 76,557 — a 122 percent hike from 2004, Everyday Health reports.
Between 2005 and 2011, 943,032 people were treated in American emergency departments for adverse events that occurred as a result of some form of benzodiazepine use or abuse, the Drug Abuse Warning Network reports. Benzodiazepines played a role in 6,497 overdose-related deaths in 2010, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Each person’s experience in addiction recovery will vary, and that is true among those who undertake detox from Klonopin as well. In general, however, the timeline for Klonopin withdrawal symptoms may include:
- First 1-4 days: For those who first began taking Klonopin in an effort to manage a diagnosed anxiety disorder, it is not uncommon for the first days of detox to be characterized by a return of those anxiety symptoms in the first few days in addition to the mounting of physical withdrawal symptoms. These may include irritability, tremors, sweating, insomnia, muscle pain and stiffness, heart palpitations, and other issues. Usually by the third day, the physical symptoms have peaked and will plateau.
- Days 4-14: Once withdrawal symptoms have reached their peak, they tend to linger at this level for 10 days or more. This is considered “full-blown” withdrawal syndrome. Though intense physically and emotionally, the specific withdrawal symptoms can be treated with the use of nonaddictive medications. At an inpatient detox facility, clients will additionally have the support of therapeutic professionals, round-the-clock medical care, and peers.
- Days 14-30: During this third phase of detox, physical withdrawal symptoms begin to fade and mental health issues may come to the forefront. The rebound anxiety that began in the first few days may become more intense, and people will begin the process of learning how to manage these feelings without using Klonopin or other benzodiazepines.
- A month or more: After a month, all physical withdrawal symptoms should be gone. Individuals should be established in therapeutic treatment that will provide them with coping mechanisms that will help them to avoid relapse.
The diagnosis of an anxiety disorder often precipitates a benzodiazepine prescription, and the return of these symptoms may occur with cessation of use, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. It is important to not only be aware of this possibility but to have a plan in place to address symptoms that may include:
- Panic attacks
- Physical symptoms like sweating, shaking, hyperventilating, increased breathing and heart rate, etc.
- Insomnia
- Intrusive memories of trauma
- Obsessive thoughts
- Repetitive behaviors
In short, the anxiety symptoms experienced prior to taking Klonopin may return and be amplified.
What are The Dangers of Quitting by Yourself?
These are just a few of the things that could happen if you try to kick a Klonopin habit by yourself:
- Increased feelings of anxiety
- Insomnia
- Confusion
- Depression
- Excessive fatigue
- Hallucinations
- Headaches
- Memory difficulties
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Nightmares
- Irregular heartbeat
- Seizures
- Thoughts of suicide
- Tremors
- Return to Klonopin abuse
- Klonopin overdose
The safest way to detox from any benzodiazepine, such as Klonopin, is via medical detox. This involves slowly detoxing via a controlled tapering schedule. Oftentimes, the standard timeline allows for a 25 percent decrease in dosage every two weeks.
While medical detox ensures that withdrawal symptoms are managed, and the process is supervised by medical professionals, some degree of discomfort may still be present. Around 48 million Americans over the age of 11 engage in prescription drug misuse or abuse over the course of their lifetimes, per the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and benzodiazepines account for a large portion of those drugs of abuse.