Taking Klonopin (Clonazepam) For Anxiety Every Day | Risks & Effects

Clonazepam (brand name Klonopin) can be taken on an as-needed basis or continuously over a set period of time to treat anxiety.

In either case, you should take the medication exactly as directed, spacing doses a minimum of 8-12 hours apart (2 or 3 times daily), and take missed doses as soon as you notice them unless it is almost time to take your next dose.

This benzodiazepine drug is prescribed to help manage medical conditions including panic disorder (panic attacks), various seizure disorders, and anxiety disorders.

The medication is available in regular tablet form and as an orally disintegrating tablet that dissolves in the mouth without water.

How Long Can You Take Clonazepam Every Day?

Healthcare professionals strongly advise that clonazepam should not be taken daily or routinely for any ongoing period greater than 2-4 weeks. This is due to a very high risk of the development of physical dependence.

Risks & Effects Of Daily Clonazepam Use

Clonazepam is prescribed when a healthcare provider believes that the medication’s benefits outweigh its risks. And, if the medication is used exactly as indicated for a limited period of time, these risks are usually minor.

Nevertheless, there are certain long- and short-term effects, risks, and precautions associated with clonazepam use.

Common Side Effects

Common side effects of clonazepam use may include:

• muscle weakness
• gastrointestinal discomfort
• drowsiness or sleepiness
• dizziness
• impaired coordination
• slurred speech
• changes in sexual drive or function

These side effects should fade after a few days as your body adjusts to the medication. If they do not, let your healthcare provider know and they may adjust your dosage as needed.

Due to the risk of accidental injury, you should not drive or operate machinery after taking clonazepam until you understand how the medication affects you.

Serious Side-Effects & Adverse Reactions

Some potential, less-common side effects of Klonopin can be serious or, rarely, life-threatening.

If you or someone around you experiences any of the following adverse effects while taking clonazepam, seek medical advice or emergency medical attention:

• signs of an allergic reaction, including hives, rash, trouble breathing, and swelling in your face
• suicidal thoughts or impulses, especially among young adults
• new or worsening insomnia, mania, or feelings of hostility, anxiety, or depression
• worsening seizures
• hallucinations
• memory loss
• signs of overdose, including severe sedation, trouble breathing (respiratory depression),
• low body temperature, slow heart rate, mental confusion, or loss of consciousness or responsiveness

Drug Interactions

Various over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, illicit substances, and supplements can decrease the effects of Klonopin or increase the sedative effects of Klonopin in potentially hazardous ways.

Interactions of note can include:

• central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including alcohol, opioid painkillers, antihistamines, barbiturates, muscle relaxants, and anesthetics, which may trigger increased sedation and dangerous respiratory depression
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
• certain antipsychotic agents
• Dilantin (phenytoin)
• phenobarbital
• carbamazepine

Physical Dependence

Clonazepam is a potent, long-acting anticonvulsant and anxiolytic. However, this potency pushes the body to rapidly adjust to its effects, leading to the development of physical dependence around four weeks of continuous or frequent use.

Once physical dependence forms, a person won’t be able to stop taking clonazepam without experiencing uncomfortable and often severe or even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.

Clonazepam Withdrawal Symptoms

If physical dependence does develop, suddenly discontinuing the medication can trigger a collection of symptoms known as benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome.

These symptoms can vary greatly in severity from person to person, and may include:

• agitation
• anxiety or panic attacks
• auditory or visual hallucinations
• delirium
• depression
• difficulty concentrating
• dizziness
• feelings of detachment from reality
• headaches
• hypersensitivity
• memory lapses
• muscle aches and pains
• seizures
• sleep disturbances and nightmares
• suicidal impulses
• sweating
• tremors
• vision changes

Acute clonazepam withdrawal often lasts 10-14 days, though this can vary.

Healthcare providers strongly recommend that those attempting benzodiazepine discontinuation participate in a tapering schedule to slowly reduce their dosage over time to minimize or avoid these symptoms.

Addiction

Addiction, or substance use disorder, is a behavioral disorder involving compulsive misuse of a substance despite the harm that the substance causes to your health, relationships, and daily life.

Clonazepam addiction, which often pairs with the misuse of other substances of abuse, can trigger severe dependence and a wide variety of serious long-term physical, behavioral, and mental health risks.

Other Precautions

Before taking clonazepam, let your prescribing physician know if you have a history of or have been diagnosed with:

• sensitivity to benzodiazepine drugs like Ativan (lorazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), or Valium (diazepam)
• kidney, lung, or liver disease
• acute narrow-angle glaucoma
• depression
• suicidal thoughts
• porphyria
• controlled substance abuse or addiction

Clonazepam should be avoided by women who are breastfeeding, pregnant, or who may become pregnant, and is not recommended for those who are younger than 18 or older than 65.

To learn about treatment options for prescription medication abuse and addiction, please contact Northeast Addictions Treatment Center today.