Call Us Now for a FREE Consultation Today! (877) 659-4555
Klonopin is a prescription medication belonging to a class of drugs named ‘benzodiazepines’. Primarily, it is used for the treatment of anxiety and acute epilepsy. Development of physical and psychological dependence is common among Klonopin users. The drug produces relaxing and euphoric effects when consumed in high amounts. Use of benzodiazepines like Klonopin has been linked to a number of problems such as impaired memory, learning problems, depression etc. After quitting the drug, it stays in the system for some time as the body removes it.
After quitting Klonopin, a number of withdrawal symptoms appear as the body learns to function without the drug. It is important to go through withdrawal and detoxification under medical supervision to avoid any harmful side effects.
The time Clonazepam (Klonopin) stays in the system depends upon its half life. The estimated half life of the drug ranges between 30 to 40 hours. It means that it takes the user about 2 days to remove 50%
of the drug from his system. Another 2 days will be taken to remove 75% of the drug.Liver is the main organ involved in the detoxification and metabolism of clonazepam. Clonazepam break down product “7-aminoclonazepam” has a half life shorter or almost equal to original drug. So it takes around 2 weeks for the body to remove the drug and its metabolites.
On average, it takes about two weeks for the complete removal of the drug from the system. However, it may vary from one user to the other. How fast the drug will be removed from the system depends upon a number of factors such as:
1.Individual variations:
2.Time the drug was taken for:
How long the drug was taken for is another important factor that determines clearance time. A person with a long term history of Klonopin abuse takes longer to get rid of the drug as compared to a person who has taken it for just a few days. The reason is, with prolonged use, the drug starts to accumulate in the body fat and other tissues and it takes longer for the body to completely eliminate it.
3.Dosage of the drug taken:
Long term users are also likely to take heavy doses of the drug to cope with tolerance. As a result, it takes longer for the body to remove it. A person who takes 1mg of the drug per day removes it much quickly than a person who takes 4mg. At higher doses, the efficiency of the liver is significantly decreased since it is only able to break down a certain amount of drug at a time.
Also, taking high doses of the drug means high amounts of it will move through the body so there is a greater chance of it getting incorporated in the body tissues. People who take low doses are less likely to store it in their bodies.
4.Polydrug abuse:
Combining clonazepam with other drugs can modify the way it is metabolized. Certain inhibitor drugs can even inhibit the function of enzymes involved in its metabolism thus elongating the time taken for its removal.
As soon as the drug is ingested, it starts to be absorbed in the blood via gastrointestinal tract. If 2mg of Klonopin are ingested, the levels of clonazepam reach their peak values within 1-2 hours. If 6mg of Klonopin are taken in a single day, the plasma concentrations of the drug will range between 30-80ng/mL.
Clonazepam shows high affinity for lipids so it becomes lodged in body fat as it is extensively distributed throughout the body. It takes around one week of clonazepam use for it to reach its peak value in the body fat.
Liver is the primary organ involved in Klonopin detoxification. As the drug reaches liver, it is broken down into its metabolites. Most of the drug ingested is excreted in the form of its metabolites via urine and feces. Only a little amount is excreted as original drug ‘clonazepam’.
After ingesting Klonopin, a number of drug tests can be taken to detect clonazepam and its metabolites in the body.
Complete removal of the drug from the body is a time taking process. However, some techniques can be used to speed up it up:
Klonopin addiction is a serious condition that needs proper treatment for a successful recovery. Don’t ever be ashamed to reach out for help. Delaying the treatment will only worsen the condition of the addict.
Road to drug and alcohol recovery is easy if you follow our extensive addiction recovery guide.