Clonazepam (Klonopin): Uses, Side-Effects & Addiction Treatment

Clonazepam, commonly known by the brand name Klonopin®, is a prescription benzodiazepine often used to treat anxiety, panic disorders, and certain types of seizures. While it can be highly effective when used as prescribed, its calming effects and potential for dependence make it a medication that must be taken with caution.

Unfortunately, misuse or long-term use of clonazepam can lead to physical dependence and addiction. Many people who begin taking the medication for legitimate medical reasons may find it difficult to stop, even when they want to. Understanding how clonazepam affects the brain and body is an important first step toward recognizing the signs of misuse and finding the right path to recovery.

What is Clonazepam (Klonopin)?

Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine drug, a group of medications that slows down the nervous system.1 Clonazepam, specifically, works by decreasing abnormal electrical activity in the brain.2 

Many people are more familiar with clonazepam’s brand names, which include:1,3,4

• Klonopin® 
• Ceberclon®
• Rivotril®
• Valpax®

Clonazepam is a Schedule IV drug,5 meaning it is a controlled substance and could be misused but has a lower potential for abuse and risk of dependence than Schedule I-III drugs.6

What is Clonazepam Used for?

Clonazepam’s depressant qualities make it an effective medication for treating conditions where the central nervous system needs to be calmed down. Clonazepam is often prescribed for:1,7

• Seizure disorders (including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, akinetic, myoclonic, and absence seizures)
• Panic disorders

What else is Klonopin used for? Off-label clonazepam uses also include: 

• Restless leg syndrome
• Insomnia
• Acute mania
• Tardive dyskinesia (a neurological condition that invokes involuntary movements)8

How Does Clonazepam Work?

Clonazepam is a potent, long-acting benzodiazepine. To understand how clonazepam works, we have to look at a complex process that happens within the brain.

This prescription medication acts as a GABA-A receptor agonist, meaning it helps to activate the neurotransmitter GABA.7 GABA slows down the brain by blocking chemical messages and decreasing the stimulation of nerve cells in your brain.9

So, klonopin works by increasing how often chloride channels open, which then decreases the excitability of neurons—leading to the desired calming effect.7 The medication also increases the production of serotonin, which is important in regulating your mood.10 Klonopin uses include anticonvulsant and anxiety reduction, which make it an effective medication for treating seizure conditions and certain mood disorders.7 

Effects of Clonazepam (Klonopin)

Like many medications, patients taking clonazepam may experience some side effects. For most patients, the side effects of Klonopin are minor, and they consider the beneficial properties of the medication to outweigh these symptoms. However, any troubling clonazepam side effects should be discussed with the patient’s prescribing doctor. 

The most common side effects of clonazepam include:2,3,7

• Fatigue
• Lethargy
• Dizziness
• Impaired balance
• Headache
• Increased saliva
• Memory problems
• Frequent urination
• Changes in sex drive

If a person misuses clonazepam by taking more than prescribed or mixing it with other medications, alcohol, or illicit drugs, there can be more serious clonazepam side effects. These concerning Klonopin side effects can include:11

• Abdominal pain
• Amnesia
• Respiratory depression
• Blurred vision
• Muscle pain
• Depression
• Anorexia
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Indigestion 
• Delirium
• Suicidal thoughts
• Overdose

Is Clonazepam Addictive?

Yes, clonazepam can be addictive. A patient taking clonazepam may develop a physical dependency on the substance,11 even if they are taking it exactly as prescribed. This dependence means that their body has become accustomed to the drug, and they will have withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop taking the medication. However, dependence is markedly different from addiction. 

If a person becomes addicted to clonazepam, they cannot control their intense cravings to take the drug, even if doing so results in negative consequences to their relationships, work, and life.12 A patient may start with a physical dependence and then develop an addiction over time, especially if they misuse the medication by taking more than prescribed, taking it more often than prescribed, or mixing it with other substances.

The potential of clonazepam addiction is a very real concern for a large population of people, as benzodiazepines are the third most commonly misused illicit or prescription drug in the USA among adults and adolescents.13

Signs of clonazepam addiction can include:14

• Requests to increase clonazepam dosage
• Drug tolerance
• Getting multiple prescriptions or prescriptions from different doctors for the same condition
• Changed appearance
• Changed behavior or mood
• Decreased performance at work
• Decreased involvement at home

Is Clonazepam Safe?

Yes, clonazepam is safe when taken as prescribed. If you’re ever worried about the medication’s effects, talk to your doctor before you stop taking it, as they can look at tapering down your Klonopin dosage over time to avoid withdrawal symptoms.11 

However, if clonazepam is misused or taken with a medication or substance with known interactions, a patient may experience adverse effects. 

Clonazepam Drug Interactions

There are some medications that should be avoided while taking clonazepam, as the combination can result in unwanted reactions. These drugs include:3

• Narcotic medications for pain or cough
• Sodium oxybate
• Anti-psychotic medications like thioridazine, chlorpromazine, or prochlorperazine
• Some antihistamines for allergy or cold
• Certain medications for anxiety or sleep
• Medications for depression like trazodone or amitriptyline
• Medications for fungal infections like ketoconazole and itraconazole
• Medications for seizures like primidone or phenobarbital
• General anesthetics like propofol
• Local anesthetics
• Medications that relax muscles

Additionally, mixing clonazepam with alcohol, misused opioids, and other benzodiazepines can result in dangerous symptoms and potentially life-threatening conditions like a Klonopin overdose.13

Can I Overdose on Clonazepam?

Yes, you can overdose on clonazepam if you misuse it or combine it with another substance. In fact, serious complications and fatal overdoses are more often associated with polysubstance use, especially when mixed with central nervous system depressants like alcohol and opioids.11

Clonazepam overdose symptoms can include:11

• Extreme drowsiness
• Confusion
• Decreased reflexes
• Shallow breathing
• Coma

If you believe someone is experiencing a clonazepam overdose, call 911 immediately and stay with the person until paramedics arrive.

Clonazepam Withdrawal & Detox Protocol

Someone who stops taking clonazepam abruptly may develop withdrawal symptoms, some of which can be life-threatening if conducted without a doctor’s guidance. Clonazepam withdrawal symptoms can include:11

• Blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Insomnia
• Panic attacks
• Increased heart rate
• Tremors
• Convulsions
• Hallucinations
• Psychosis 

As these withdrawal symptoms can be incredibly dangerous, it’s not recommended to stop using a benzodiazepine like clonazepam on your own. Instead, many doctors recommend that patients go to a medical detox program, where healthcare professionals can oversee your detox and keep you as comfortable as possible throughout the process. 

Even if you’re on a long-term, tapering down protocol, you’ll still want to regularly check in with your doctor to make sure your body is handling the decrease in dosage well. 

If you’re experiencing clonazepam withdrawals or struggling with an addiction, further treatment after attending a medical detox program can help address the underlying reasons driving the addiction.

How is Clonazepam Addiction Treated?

After someone safely completes their clonazepam detox, it’s recommended that they immediately begin treatment to address their addiction. There are two main treatment options: inpatient or outpatient care. 

During inpatient treatment, the patient resides at the treatment center for an extended period of time. If the patient has medical concerns or has a high risk of relapsing, this can be a compelling option. 

If the patient has a less severe substance abuse disorder or is further along in their recovery journey, an outpatient program may be a better fit. In an outpatient program, the patient still receives individualized therapy and treatment, but they live at home. This allows them to meet any work or home responsibilities when they’re not in a session. There are three levels of outpatient care—partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and standard outpatient—which each respectively have a lower number of treatment hours per week.

In rehab, the patient will receive various addiction treatment services, from individual CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) sessions to peer-supported group sessions. Medical care is also integrated into the patient’s treatment plan. This can include undergoing medication-assisted treatment to assist with discomfort and cravings or exploring treatment options for co-occurring disorders like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other conditions that may be fueling their addiction.

Clonazepam Addiction Treatment in Kansas City 

If you’re facing a clonazepam addiction, there are options available to move into recovery while still managing any medical conditions you have. At Empowered Recovery Center, our team of healthcare professionals and mental health clinicians can work with you to create a treatment plan that gives you confidence, motivation, and peace of mind.

The first phase of your treatment may include a medical detox, where our medical providers will closely monitor your health. Once your body is in a stable place, you can be admitted into one of our Kansas City rehab programs: partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or standard outpatient. The right fit for you will depend on several factors, and our experienced team will offer a recommendation for where they think you’ll do best.

Our caring intake team is open to answering any questions you have, from how we work with insurance to the different payment options we offer to what the admission process all entails. To learn more about our personalized and holistic approach to clonazepam addiction treatment, give us a call or verify your benefits online today.

References 

1. Clonazepam (oral route). (2025, July 1). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved July 27, 2025, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/clonazepam-oral-route/description/drg-20072102 
2. Clonazepam: MedlinePlus drug information. (n.d.). Retrieved July 27, 2025, from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682279.html 
3. Clonazepam tablets. (2024, December 17). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved July 27, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/19749-clonazepam-tablets 
4. EVS Explore. (n.d.). Retrieved July 27, 2025, from https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncim/C1585742 
5. Controlled Substances – alphabetical order (pp. 1–3). (24 C.E.). Retrieved July 27, 2025, from https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/orangebook/c_cs_alpha.pdf 
6. Drug scheduling. (n.d.). DEA. Retrieved July 27, 2025, from https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling 
7. Basit, H., & Kahwaji, C. I. (2023, May 13). Clonazepam. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. Retrieved July 27, 2025, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556010/ 
8. Tardive dyskinesia. (2025, June 2). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved July 27, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6125-tardive-dyskinesia 
9. Professional, C. C. M. (2025a, March 19). Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved July 27, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22857-gamma-aminobutyric-acid-gaba 
10. Professional, C. C. M. (2025b, May 7). Serotonin. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved July 27, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22572-serotonin 
11. KLONOPIN. (2021). Retrieved July 27, 2025, from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/017533s061lbl.pdf 
12. Szalavitz, M., Rigg, K. K., & Wakeman, S. E. (2021). Drug dependence is not addiction—and it matters. Annals of Medicine. Retrieved July 28, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8583742/ 
13. Sarangi, A., McMahon, T., & Gude, J. (2021). Benzodiazepine misuse: An epidemic within a pandemic. Cureus. Retrieved July 28, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8294026/
14. Benzodiazepine abuse | EBSCO. (n.d.). EBSCO Information Services, Inc. | www.ebsco.com. Retrieved July 28, 2025, from https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/health-and-medicine/benzodiazepine-abuse