Clonazepam makes you feel calm, and it reduces feelings of anxiety. Clonazepam can also relax you and make you feel sleepy. Sometimes this medication will also confuse when you first start taking it. When Clonazepam is taken in high doses it greatly depresses the central nervous system and will cause a euphoric high. 
What Is Clonazepam?
Clonazepam (Klonopin) is a sedative that belongs to the benzodiazepine class of medications. It is used to treat anxiety, epilepsy, involuntary muscle spasms, and sometimes restless leg syndrome. Clonazepam works on the central nervous system by enhancing the effects of GABA, a natural chemical in the body, to produce a calming effect. Like all of the other benzodiazepines, clonazepam is highly addictive, so any benzodiazepine should only be prescribed and used on a very short-term basis. To prevent becoming addicted and developing physical withdrawal symptoms from Klonopin, no one should take this medication for longer than 2 weeks.
Side Effects of Taking Clonazepam
As we have already stated, clonazepam produces a calming effect when taken. This drug can be abused when taken in large doses and is quite addictive. It should only be taken as prescribed as high doses can have unpleasant side effects. Some of the potential side effects of the medication are:
- A “high” feeling
- Feeling light-headed, dizzy, or unsteady
- Feeling sleepy or drowsy during the day
- Disturbed Sleep
- Vivid Dreams
- Muscle Weakness
Taking clonazepam in high doses or for longer periods is dangerous. It is highly addictive and once the body has become used to an individual taking the medication, withdrawal symptoms will occur if the medication is stopped. Some of the potential side effects of taking Klonopin in high doses can include:
- Confusion
- Memory issues
- Impaired cognition
- Fainting
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Slowed reaction time or reduced judgment
- Reduced sex drive
- Numbness or heaviness of the extremities
Clonazepam has also been reported by some to cause suicidal thoughts or extreme depression. Benzodiazepines are often mixed with other substances to produce more intense euphoria, high, or calm feeling.
Mixing Clonazepam With Other Substances
Clonazepam, like other benzodiazepines, is often mixed with either opioids or alcohol to intensify its effects. Either of these combinations is deadly and very, very dangerous. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has a lot published on the dangers of mixing benzodiazepines with opioids.
More than 30 percent of overdoses involving opioids also involve benzodiazepines, a type of prescription sedative commonly prescribed for anxiety or to help with insomnia. Combining opioids and benzodiazepines can be unsafe because both types of drug sedate users and suppress breathing—the cause of overdose fatality—in addition to impairing cognitive functions. In 2015, 23 percent of people who died of an opioid overdose also tested positive for benzodiazepines. (NIH)
Another very dangerous combination is mixing clonazepam with alcohol. When both are consumed together the effects of each are intensified. Alcohol and clonazepam are both central nervous system depressants. When they are taken together breathing and heart rate are depressed, and this could cause an individual’s heart to stop or cause them to stop breathing. Mixing any substances is very dangerous especially when you are dealing with illicit drugs and prescription medications. These days you do not know what you are getting off the street, so the likelihood of an overdose or overdose fatality is much greater. If you are struggling with an addiction to any substance, you don’t have to continue to suffer. There is help available. The first step is realizing you have a problem and seeking out help.
Treatment for Clonazepam Addiction
If you or someone you love is suffering from an addiction, our addiction specialists are available around the clock to assist you. Evoke Wellness at Miramar provides cutting edge addiction treatment. We believe that recovery is not a one size fits all approach, so every client’s needs are individualized. We are committed to helping you obtain long-lasting recovery. Call us today and let our recovery specialists get you on the road to recovery!
