Klonopin is the brand name for the generic drug Clonazepam. Clonazepam is a drug used to treat anxiety disorders which cause emotional and physical symptoms that affect normal everyday life of people. Clonazepam is widely prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy. It is also prescribed in the treatment of symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis such as tremors and muscle spasticity. Additionally, Klonopin is used to treat several kinds of seizure disorders like absence seizures and Lennox. It is also used to treat panic disorders.

Clonazepam or Klonopin is a drug that depresses the central nervous systems in the brain. The central nervous system is a component of the nervous system which is a complex connection of nerves which allows your body to coordinate all its functions. The nerves allow you to be aware of the outside world through your senses and transmission of signal. The CNS comprises the brain and the spinal cord. It receives, processes and stores information and sends out messages on how the body should respond.

Now, Klonopin acts on the CNS hence it is classified as a benzodiazepine. Generally, benzodiazepines are drugs that affect a particular chemical messenger in the brain known as gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA. Due to the nature of their interaction with the brain, benzodiazepines produce a calming effect on the body. They are able to cause nerve impulses throughout the body. Other drugs classified as benzodiazepines are Lorazepam/Ativan, Alprazolam/Xanax, Diazepam/Valium and Temazepam/Restoril.

It is not clearly understood how Klonopin works but it is generally believed that the drug is capable of enhancing activity of inhibitor neurotransmitters in the CNS thus slowing it down. It works by blocking particular receptors in the brain. Klonopin has a depressant effect on the mind and body. It slows physical and mental processing. Consequently, it calms the brain reducing anxiety and stress. Klonopin can be extremely addictive because of how it affects the body and mind. When taken in higher doses, Klonopin greatly depresses the central nervous system causing a euphoric high that users will continue to chase.

Klonopin causes high intoxication which includes extreme drowsiness and slurred speech. It is a fast-acting drug that usually starts working within the hour and lasts from 8-10 hours in the body. Klonopin abusers experience a range of feelings including fatigue and complete sedation. Other people can experience complete blackouts after taking the drug. First time abusers can start doing things in excess including eating and drinking more, feeling tired and sleepy and abusing other substances more too. Klonopin lowers inhibitions in a person’s body.

Klonopin causes effects that can continue to occur even after the high has worn off. Individuals will experience fatigue since the drug has a long half-life. Dizziness results because of impaired cognition. The person will also experience mood swings especially when they are coming down from the drug. Anger and sadness become more frequent. Anxiety and depression are very common after a high. Individuals will also experience nausea, slowed reactions and cravings for food.

Klonopin does have some side effects. For instance, it can cause fatigue, weakening of the muscles, dizziness and lack of coordination. Taking Klonopin can affect your ability to drive especially due to the dizziness. Since it slows down the nerves, it can slow down your reactions. Driving after taking Klonopin is dangerous. It can also cause light-headedness and drowsiness. It is also unadvisable to take Klonopin alongside other drugs like sedatives or tranquilizers since it can increase the effect of these drugs. Taking Klonopin with alcohol is not a good idea as well. Many people take a combination of the two to intensify the effects of both substances. Unfortunately, this can only lead to blackouts and possible respiratory failure. Klonopin slows down the body system which means body functions like heart rate and breathing are very slow. A person can easily slip into a coma or even death when they overdose. Overdose symptoms are such as slurred speech, extreme drowsiness, unsteadiness, memory impairment, lack of coordination, confusion, physical weakness, difficulty breathing hallucinations and low blood pressure.

Normally, Klonopin comes in tablet form. It is ingested orally. There are tablets that can be swallowed and then there are oral disintegrating tablets that dissolve in the mouth. In some instances, Klonopin can be taken in liquid solution.

When you purchase Klonopin, you will see a black box warning. A black box warning is information on the label of prescription drugs designed to call attention to serious life threatening risks. For Klonopin, the black box indicates that the use of Klonopin with opioids can result in profound sedation, difficulty in breathing, coma or death.

Generally, benzodiazepines have the ability to become addictive because of their influence on the brain. Xanax and the rest of the drugs classified in this category can be abused and cause addiction. This is the case with other prescribed medications. Klonopin in just one drug that tells the story of the rest. It tells of the possibilities of drugs legitimately prescribed becoming a patient’s worst nightmare.

That is Klonopin in a nutshell. The bad news is that many people get addicted to the drug as with other prescription drugs. It is easy for a person to become dependent on the drug especially if it gave them relief and a calming effect. Dependency then grows to addiction, hindering a person from living life to their fullest. It is best for people with substance abuse problems to enter a detox and treatment program for a full recovery. The withdrawal symptoms from Klonopin addiction can be very intense. The seizures, muscle pain, cramping and suicidal thoughts are just some of the symptoms users have to wade through in order to recover.

With this information on what Klonopin is like, you are in a better position to make decisions regarding taking or using it. It is better to be safe than sorry. When it comes to addiction treatment, it is possible to get treated for Klonopin addiction. However, it is a long journey to recovery and a painful one at that.