Klonopin withdrawal can last in as short as two weeks, however; some cases persist for months up to a year especially when a strong physical dependence on the substance is involved. Since Klonopin is a slow-acting drug, withdrawal symptoms are likely to appear two to five days after the last dose.
Millions of people have been found to have used Klonopin in 2015. This is an alarming number since this drug which belongs to the class of benzodiazepines can be habit-forming. There are even more life-threatening withdrawal symptoms that Klonopin can give to its users compared to opioid substances.
The Three Phases of Klonopin Withdrawal
Substance withdrawal is known for two phases. One is called an acute withdrawal wherein symptoms can usually last for two weeks while the other one is called protracted withdrawal wherein the symptoms can persist for months. Once detox treatment is completed, some symptoms may continue to come in and out at different levels.
As for the case of Klonopin detox, there is an additional phase that can be identified as the “early phase”. Although it is not typical for every patient to go through each phase considering how every person’s journey is different, a medically supervised treatment can work well for detox regardless of which phase a person is in.
Early Withdrawal
Early withdrawal may start to linger on any of the first four days after the last dose. Within this time frame, patients may experience mild symptoms like that of the flu. Sometimes it can be accompanied by irritability or minor mood swings. And as the days go by, these can progress to more intense levels.
The most distinct thing to anticipate during early withdrawal is the risk of relapse. Since Klonopin is prescribed for the treatment of anxiety-related disorders, it is likely for a person to experience these mental illnesses more severely during withdrawal. Manifestations can slowly increase in strength and reach their peak within days starting from the fifth day.
Acute Withdrawal
By the fifth day after the last dose, various withdrawal symptoms may start to surge altogether, instilling extreme discomfort and pain to a patient. These conditions may typically last for two weeks. While some complete their treatment in full recovery within this span of time, other symptoms may continue to bother some patients beyond this schedule.
The maximum time of which an acute withdrawal can last is one month. Symptoms are expected to slowly decline after reaching their strongest state in two weeks. Withdrawal symptoms that continue to persist for more than a month will require longer treatment and must be constantly monitored to avoid complications.
Protracted Withdrawal
The next stop for withdrawal symptoms that persist beyond a month is called protracted withdrawal. This phase which can linger up to a year or two may not be as intense as that from the first month and the symptoms may just turn out to be a handful, however; it is still best to keep in touch with one’s physician to ensure that recovery will continue to progress.
Within this period, some may only feel a temporary state of sobriety. Psychological symptoms and cravings for the drug can come knocking in anytime without notice. If left without care, the tendency to get back to substance use can happen that is why therapies and counseling are recommended to prevent falling off the treatment.
Factors Affecting The Length of Withdrawal Treatment
The duration of withdrawal treatment to every person varies completely depending on several factors. Even those who have used the substance precisely for medical purposes are vulnerable to experiencing a withdrawal syndrome. The following are the factors that can greatly impact the length of withdrawal treatment one is required to take.
Overall Health Condition
Treatment can be more challenging for those who do not have a healthy disposition. The elderly and pregnant women, for instance, may not be entirely capable of coping with the challenges of withdrawal, and complications may arise which can prolong the treatment. The elderly are prone to falls while the pregnant may have their fetus at a serious health risk.
Those with a history of seizures or panic attacks must have been cautioned about the impact of withdrawal even before using it. A huge tendency of magnifying these illnesses is very likely and can be dangerous. Even those with mental health illnesses can be prone to hallucination and suicidal ideations.
The intensity of Substance Abuse
The degree of the substance taken over a period of time can impede the possibility of getting through detox treatment quickly. As the body builds a stronger tolerance towards high doses, it will be difficult to recuperate with its absence and will require much time for the brain to function normally and heal.
Severe complications may also arise especially when a person has poly-substance abuse. It is difficult to determine how complex the symptoms brought by drug interactions are. Typically, withdrawal to one substance can trigger complications from the other and this would definitely entail a much longer treatment.
History of Withdrawal Treatment
With the extremely painful discomfort that withdrawal brings to a person as well as the severe cravings that bug one anytime without notice, it is likely to fall off the treatment and return to substance use. The downside of this is it traps one in an inescapable loop. And the worse thing is how every withdrawal attempt requires a higher level of care.
Returning to substance use in the middle of a withdrawal treatment becomes harmful because the body may not be capable of tolerating one’s usual dose of Klonopin at this point. Retaking a dosage that can uncertainty be too high for one to endure may lead to drug overdose, the common cause of drug-related deaths in the United States.
It may seem concerning to note that the longer the treatment, the more costly it could be. However, if one aims to fully recover from the toll of taking Klonopin, it is best to reach out to a professional team who is capable of designing the best treatment plan most suited for the person.