How Long Does Klonopin Stay In Your System?

    How long does Klonopin stay in your system? Learn about its uses, risk factors, side effects, and treatment options.

    Klonopin Fundamentals

    Klonopin, an anti-anxiety medication, can stay in the body’s system for several days after the last use. Several factors affect the length of time it will be detectable in the body, and different drug tests can detect it for different periods.

    This guide will discuss how long Klonopin stays in your system and how to get help for a Klonopin addiction. Remember, Klonopin addiction—or any substance use addiction—does not have to take over your life. Fortunately, there are many options available to help treat substance use disorder.

    How Long Does Klonopin Stay In Your System

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    What Is Klonopin?

    Klonopin medication is a prescription drug used to treat anxiety disorders. Klonopin is a brand-name medication containing the generic drug clonazepam. It falls under the class of drugs called benzodiazepines, which comprises similar medications like Xanax and Valium.1
    This medication is often taken for off-label purposes, such as a sleeping aid. It also has high abuse potential and is considered a controlled substance in the United States.

    How Is Klonopin Used?

    A physician may prescribe Klonopin for anxiety in varying dosages to treat different disorders, such as:
    • Generalized anxiety disorder
    • Panic disorder
    • Social anxiety disorder
    • Agoraphobia
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder
    In addition, Klonopin is often prescribed to prevent and control seizures since it has an anticonvulsant effect. The average Klonopin dose is about 0.5 mg, and the highest dose Klonopin formulations come in strengths of 2 mg. 2

    How Long Does Klonopin Take to Work?

    When taken orally, Klonopin will produce calming effects in about an hour. Compared to other benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, Klonopin takes longer to work but lasts for an extended amount of time.

    What Are the Effects of Klonopin?

    Like other benzodiazepines, Klonopin produces its effects by depressing the central nervous system. This can help the body relax and alleviate symptoms of anxiety; however, Klonopin’s side effects can quickly lead to problems. Common side effects include:

    Note that Klonopin’s effect on blood pressure and respiration can lead to unconsciousness and overdose if taken in high doses.

    • Feelings of tiredness
    • Low blood pressure
    • Slower respiration
    • Slowed heart rate
    • Memory loss

    How Long Does Klonopin Stay In Your System?

    To understand how long Klonopin stays in one’s system, it’s imperative to understand how drugs are processed in the body. Time of elimination is almost always reported as a half-life—the time it takes the body to eliminate 50% of the drug. Klonopin’s half-life is around thirty to forty hours, significantly longer than other medications.3
    Therefore, the effects of Klonopin last much longer than other benzodiazepines. This also means that a drug test can detect Klonopin in the system for much longer periods than other drugs. Below, we’ve outlined the various Klonopin drug tests and their detection times.

    Urine

    Klonopin detection in urine drug tests will indicate the use of a single dose for up to thirty days.

    Saliva

    Saliva tests, typically used to test for recent drug use, can still detect Klonopin in the system between five and six days.

    Blood

    Blood tests are typically only used in emergency medicine settings since they can detect Klonopin in the system almost immediately after ingestion. Still, due to the long Klonopin half-life, blood tests can detect the substance for several days.

    Hair

    Hair tests can detect Klonopin in the system for the longest period of all Klonopin drug tests, detecting up to four months after last use.

    What Factors Influence How Long Klonopin Remains in Your Body?

    Certain factors influence how quickly and efficiently the body processes drugs. These variables include:
    • Age (older individuals eliminate drugs slower)
    • Liver function
    • Average Klonopin dose (higher doses can be detected longer)
    • Frequency of use
    • Duration of use
    Essentially, slower metabolism and a higher dosage of Klonopin can result in the drug staying in the system for much longer.

    Klonopin Withdrawal Risks

    The use of Klonopin medication for long periods or in high dosages can create a risk of serious withdrawal effects. Note that benzodiazepines are one of the most dangerous drug classes in terms of withdrawal, as they can result in life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Thus, detoxing from drugs, especially benzodiazepines such as Klonopin, is crucial because it ensures patients’ safety and protection.

    Klonopin Withdrawal Side Effects

    Professional medical care may be necessary to detox when addressing Klonopin addiction properly. Klonopin withdrawal effects include the following:
    • Seizures
    • Shakes
    • Hallucinations
    • Stomach cramps
    • Muscle cramps
    • Anxiety
    • Restlessness
    • Sleep difficulties

    Of all of the withdrawal symptoms, seizures are the most concerning. This is because seizures from Klonopin withdrawal can be deadly and must be treated with targeted medication to ensure safety. Seeking treatment at a professional medical detox center is the only way to guarantee safety during this period and can also help manage other Klonopin side effects.

    Treatment for Klonopin Addiction

    Treating Klonopin addiction requires a multi-pronged approach to address the physical, emotional, and social consequences of a substance use disorder. High-quality addiction treatment typically addresses these issues in distinct stages, provided at specialized facilities with trained medical and clinical professionals.

    How Long Does Klonopin Stay In Your System

    Detoxification

    The first step in treating Klonopin addiction is medical detox. A medical detox center will provide targeted medications to address withdrawal symptoms, a safe place for recovery, and twenty-four-seven observations to ensure that all symptoms are addressed.

    Nonetheless, detox alone is not enough to ensure long-term recovery, as it only addresses the physical symptoms of substance use disorder. It must be followed by either inpatient or outpatient care that can provide the tools to maintain sobriety.

    Inpatient Care

    Residential treatment is typically the next step in addiction care. At an inpatient treatment facility, patients live on-site with other people trying to recover from substance use disorders and receive intensive treatment daily. This structure allows residents to fully dedicate themselves to working towards recovery and provides substantial peer and professional support.

    Outpatient Care

    Outpatient care is typically recommended after inpatient treatment. At an outpatient treatment center, patients attend treatment several days a week and go home at the end of the day. Outpatient care has several benefits:
    • It allows patients to continue working
    • Patients sleep in their own beds
    • Patients keep up with family and social obligations
    • It provides long-term support for recovery
    In addition, outpatient treatment can be more flexible than inpatient care, allowing it to fit around a busy schedule or other responsibilities.

    Therapies

    There are several evidence-based therapies for Klonopin addiction. These include: 4

    • Individual and group therapies
    • Cognitive behavioral therapy
    • Medication-assisted treatment
    • Motivational interviewing
    • 12 step facilitation
    There are decades of research showing that these treatment options effectively overcome substance use disorders and achieve long-term recovery.

    Resources

    1. https://journals.lww.com/intclinpsychopharm/Fulltext/2006/05000/Clonazepam_treatment_of_lysergic_acid.00001.aspx?casa_token=k9DO4bdm9SQAAAAA:58RQtuvrz2BKLlzFx0nxJl-k1Ms3qypOhcpJHw03ZARe95phPUz5sPHr0YBCQXMkFR18e7FkTmG7HGLh5Rf8dm-q
    2. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/574467?casa_token=Sx5O2rukSlAAAAAA:3ZtkyRalo8dyJ-CmuNV7sZy05NGe1DWvHHDOV0R1EudcOgeGrdRr_aMYt8HQrfF53Ymk90AY8Hk
    3. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/017533s053,020813s009lbl.pdf
    4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740547208001384?casa_token=rZyrIBJhBRkAAAAA:t0lCoWQdMFn9aEsy8PplLHcmtqa30Zo9F0B9KIWp-UTTF_U5s4xdLgtxSNisSFVwolDiAZIjFdQ