By sharing an effect on GABA, Klonopin and alcohol can interact in a potent way, compounding each other’s CNS depressant effects. This can result in a state of being compliant and not in control of one’s own will or what’s happening to them or around them. In essence, a person who has unknowingly consumed Klonopin experiences a loss of control, sedation, amnesia and a lack of memory about events while Klonopin was in their system. Alcohol’s influence on the CNS ranges from altering neurotransmitter levels to causing structural changes within the brain.
Can You Drink Alcohol With Klonopin?
Klonopin, also known as clonazepam, is a benzodiazepine prescribed to treat conditions such as seizures, panic disorder, catatonia, and restlessness. It enhances the effect of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the central nervous system. Contacting an addiction treatment specialist is always best to determine the best course of action. Alcohol is one of the most abused substances in the US, partly due to easy access.
What are the potential long-term health hazards of combining Klonopin and alcohol?
This can lead to short-term effects such as impaired judgment, coordination and reaction times. Klonopin and alcohol withdrawal do not mix well if the person detoxing from alcohol has a co-occurring benzodiazepine addiction. It is considered an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic drug, belonging to how long after klonopin can you drink a class of medications called benzodiazepines. These drugs affect the brain’s neurotransmitters, the chemicals the nerves release to communicate from one cell to another.
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- When consumed, it primarily impacts the central nervous system, acting as a depressant and altering brain function.
- Klonopin, which is more popularly known as Clonazepam, falls under the category of tranquilizers and is widely used for treating medical conditions related to panic disorders and seizures.
- The problem with Klonopin withdrawal is that it may not show up right after you stop using.
- The next few days will be critical, and 48 to 72 hours after your last drink can result in a severe complication known as delirium tremens (DTs).
- It can also have the following very serious effects, which can be dangerous and warrant calling your doctor as soon as possible.
Klonopin Rehab: Length, Program, & FAQs
Drinking alcohol while taking clonazepam can intensify the depressive effects of both substances. After learning the side effects, you must be keen on quitting this deadly combination. Doctors, clinical staff, and addiction counselors work together to formulate a plan to help you clear your body of alcohol and drugs. Now that you know the dangers of mixing alcohol and Klonopin, you might be wondering if you are developing an addiction to this combination. Outpatient treatment is designed to give support but isn’t intensive enough to support someone newly off substances.
Alcohol Rehab
Mixing Klonopin and alcohol poses significant risks to physical health, mental well-being and overall life stability. Both substances depress the central nervous system and intensify each other’s effects, making the combination especially dangerous. From severe sedation and respiratory depression to a heightened risk of overdose, the acute dangers are substantial. Long-term misuse can lead to organ damage, addiction and devastating social consequences. Persistent co-use of Klonopin and alcohol can have long-lasting impacts on both physical and mental health, including cognitive challenges and increased risks of severe medical ailments.
What are the risks of mixing Klonopin and alcohol?
Klonopin, known generically as clonazepam, is a medication prescribed to prevent and control seizures and to treat panic attacks. As a member of the benzodiazepine family, Klonopin is recognized for its anticonvulsant and antiepileptic properties. At Renaissance Recovery our goal is to provide evidence-based treatment to as many individuals as possible. Give us a call today to verify your insurance coverage or to learn more about paying for addiction treatment. Drinking on Klonopin is never recommended, as Klonopin has an extremely long elimination half-life.
- The fact of the matter is that if they are taken responsibility, at a prescribed dose, they are safe and effective medications that help millions of people with a range of indications.
- Doctors, clinical staff, and addiction counselors work together to formulate a plan to help you clear your body of alcohol and drugs.
- Both alcohol and Klonopin are CNS depressants, that slow activity in the brain.
- Klonopin, on its own and at usual doses, is very unlikely to cause significant respiratory depression.
- We believe anyone can recover from addiction with the right treatment and support.
Additionally, combining CNS depressants can depress heart rate and breathing to potentially life-threatening levels. If this triggers respiratory depression, breathing may slow to the extent that your system is not getting enough oxygen. Symptoms of oxygen insufficiency include pale and clammy skin or a blue tinge to the lips and fingernails. Breathing can stop completely if respiratory depression is not medically monitored. Klonopin (Clonazepam) and alcohol are both depressants of the central nervous system.
At the very least, separate clonazepam from alcohol by 12 hours, and ideally, by a few days. You should wait at least two weeks after your last dose of Klonopin before consuming any alcohol, or longer based on your doctor’s recommendation. Klonopin and other benzodiazepines are not the only substances that influence the GABA receptors in the brain; alcohol acts similarly, increasing GABA production in the brain. Aftercare is a critical phase of recovery, often beginning after the completion of a formal treatment program. It may include continued therapy, support groups and other services aimed at sustaining recovery and preventing relapse.