Clonazepam Treatment and Rehab
Clonazepam Info
Clonazepam – often known by the trade name Klonopin – is a member of the benzodiazepine class of tranquilizers (benzos). Clonazepam is prescribed as an anti-anxiety and anticonvulsant drug to patients experiencing panic attacks, seizures or anxiety. It works by slowing down specific functions in the brain. The depressant effect on the body leads to lower physical response and slowed-down processes in the body and mind. Clonazepam has therapeutic features that are beneficial as an anticonvulsant, anti-anxiety and muscle relaxant with hypnotic effect when taken according to your doctor’s prescription.
Nevertheless, doctors in the UK are becoming increasingly cautious prescribing benzos for their patients – and with good reason. The relaxing effects and euphoric ‘high’ the drug produces make it easy to develop dependence, and addiction to clonazepam is growing rapidly.
People with benzodiazepine use disorder require medical detox and rehab treatment to fully overcome addiction and live a sober life.
Clonazepam Addiction Treatment: What is it?
Drug rehabilitation is the psychotherapeutic and medical treatment received for addiction to drugs like clonazepam. Drug addiction is a chronic mental illness, characterised by cravings, compulsive behaviour and obsession with drugs. It changes the physical structure of the brain and alters performance. Some of these changes are irreversible or long-lasting and lead to harmful behaviour that causes many recovering addicts to relapse within the first month following rehab treatment.
Addiction treatment strengthens your chances of understanding past negative behaviour that encouraged drug use and the effect it’s had on your family, loved ones, work and finances. Addiction usually begins with a legitimate drug prescription for sleep and panic disorders. However, at some point (which may be difficult to determine) you will have crossed the line from medical use to drug dependence, which required increasingly larger doses.
The best treatment for clonazepam addiction features medically supervised detox, medication-assisted treatment, therapy techniques and aftercare.
Treatment for Clonazepam Addiction is a Necessity
Patients who try to detox on their own are sometimes disabled for months (and in some cases years), because they didn’t understand that withdrawal from benzos is sometimes a complicated process, which requires care from experienced addiction specialists.
An increasing number of patients are suffering long-term side effects from clonazepam abuse because they’ve used the substance over a number of years.
This medication should only be used for a short time, due to its highly addictive properties. Long-term usage leads to cognitive impairment that causes you to forget things you easily knew. It’s a problem not limited to patients aged 60 and older, but also affects younger people abusing clonazepam.
When you consider the devastating consequences and disabilities caused by abusing benzodiazepines, it’s crucial to seek treatment once you’ve developed tolerance. The longer you wait, the more permanent the effects and the harder it will be to come off clonazepam.
Effective Treatment for Clonazepam Addiction
Effective treatment depends on the application of the principles of addiction treatment when an individualised treatment plan is created for you.
Some of the key principles include:
- Every individual battling with substance use disorder requires their own treatment plan
- Effective treatment must go beyond the patient’s drug usage and address all their needs
- Medication is most effective when used in collaboration with behavioural therapies
- Detox is not a treatment in itself
Components of an excellent addiction treatment plan include withdrawal medication, behavioural counselling, medical devices that deliver skills training and treat withdrawal symptoms, evaluation for co-occurring disorders and mental health treatment (alongside addiction remedies).
Call our admissions line 24 hours a day to get help.
Therapy and Specialised Treatment Options
The building block for addiction treatment is the principle that no two individuals exhibit the same addiction symptoms, nor should treatment be the same. Rehab is very successful for treating clonazepam addiction, especially when aftercare planning and pharmacology are included. Your individual treatment will include drug detox, nutritional counselling, holistic treatment, psychiatric counselling and post-rehab care to maximise recovery.
However, there are specific groups that require highly individualised treatment if the problem of addiction is to be properly addressed. They include members of the LGBT community, teenagers, pregnant women, as well as people with polydrug use issues and co-occurring disorders.
Medications that may be used during treatment include:
- Flumazenil: generally used to treat drug overdoses, but also effective in relieving withdrawal symptoms of clonazepam.
- Diazepam: also classed as a benzodiazepine, diazepam is prescribed to treat anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal and is also effective in aiding the withdrawal symptoms of clonazepam.
Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab for Clonazepam Addiction
If you’re addicted to clonazepam, there are two major options for treatment. They include:
Inpatient Residential Treatment
A residential programme provides round-the-clock support and a safe environment, where you’ll live with other recovering addicts in a community, instead of a hospital. You’ll have access to trained medical professionals who have experience helping clonazepam addicts detox safely. Licensed therapists and counsellors are also on hand to provide psychological treatment for your addiction.
The length of stay depends on the severity of your addiction. Those users who’ve only just started building tolerance for clonazepam (and have no medical issues that might complicate treatment) can register at a short-term rehab centre. Treatment lasts 30 days and is usually intense, as counsellors and care professionals attempt to teach you as much as possible within a short period of time.
For long-term users with a history of drug abuse, co-occurring disorders and polydrug use problems, long-term treatment is ideal.
Treatment lasts from 60 days to a year. Consult your doctor before making any decision.
Outpatient Rehab
Outpatient treatment is designed for people who can’t take time off work to fully commit to rehab. It also benefits high-functioning addicts, who have kept their lives together without their drug use affecting their home life, finances or employment. The duration of treatment ranges from 12-16 weeks and (just like the inpatient option) depends on the severity of addiction.
Partial inpatient programmes are outpatient options where you attend daily rehab, just like an inpatient. Sessions last up to six hours daily. Intensive outpatient programmes are used to treat mild addiction, where the patient has been using for only a short period of time.
Finding an Exclusive Clonazepam Rehab
If you have a demanding job (as a business executive for example), which prevents you from receiving treatment for clonazepam addiction, you need an executive rehab centre that combines research-backed treatment techniques, luxurious amenities to make your stay more comfortable, as well as office equipment that allows you to conduct business in the normal fashion.
Most executive rehabs provide a conference room, laptop, photocopying machine, printer, wifi access and mobile phones to inpatients.
You may enjoy holistic treatment models like horse riding, music/art therapy, nutritional therapy and massage therapy. Amenities include gyms, jacuzzi, swimming pool, five-star cuisine, private, luxurious rooms and beach locations tucked away from the world.
What to Know about Clonazepam Clinics
Millions of people around the world are suffering addiction problems that go untreated. Addiction is a disease that affects your brain. The success of treatment – no matter how brilliant – depends on your own commitment and desire to live a drug-free life.
When you enter a clonazepam treatment clinic, the first step is intake and evaluation. A drug counsellor or addiction specialist assesses you to determine if you’re the right fit for their rehab programme. You must be honest with your answers, as they will determine the severity of your addiction and type of treatment plan that will be created for you. They’ll take samples of blood and urine to ascertain the exact quantity of drugs in your system, whether you need detoxification or will head straight to rehab.
After intake, you’ll be assigned a room and undergo detox. During this phase, medication will be provided for withdrawal symptoms and other co-occurring disorders, diagnosed at intake.
Private Clonazepam Rehabs and Confidentiality
Every reputable rehab facility operates on the principle of protecting the privacy of its patients. Most make their employees sign a clause that legally prevents them from discussing patients or their treatment with non-authorised personnel.
You’ll be provided a copy of the confidentiality agreement when you enter rehab. It clearly shows your rights as a patient, and it’s binding on the rehab facility. The fear of being compromised shouldn’t prevent you from getting treatment.
Individual and Group Therapy
One-on-one talk therapy is an effective technique that provides a safe platform for you to fully understand all psychological issues and negative patterns that initially led to drug abuse. It is ideal for helping people with dual diagnosis, depression and anxiety learn healthy techniques for coping with stressors, negative feelings and triggers.
Group therapy involves other recovering addicts trying to overcome the same drug addiction as you. Sessions are led by a certified drug counselor, as recovering addicts share their stories, learn strategies from each other and build a network of support. You’ll learn more about addiction and your recovery journey, and come to understand that treatment does work when you commit yourself to it.
Duration of Treatment
Medical detox. This is the first stage of addiction treatment. Clonazepam detox takes seven to ten days. Withdrawal symptoms take 14-28 days to dissipate, peaking two weeks after your last dose.
Inpatient rehab. The duration of residential treatment is determined by the severity of your addiction, presence of any co-occurring disorders, polydrug use problems or medical conditions. For long-term clonazepam users, a lengthier rehab stay is recommended to adequately treat addiction, undergo rehab, manage cravings and equip you for recovery.
Short-term rehab is for those who experience mild dependence on clonazepam, with no disorders or medical conditions present that might complicate the detox process.
Outpatient rehab. The length of outpatient treatment ranges from 12-16 weeks, depending on the patient’s addiction treatment needs. It integrates well with your daily life, so you can work or go to school whilst attending therapy and doctor’s appointments.
Call our admissions line 24 hours a day to get help.
Detoxing from Clonazepam: All you Need to Know
The best way to detox from clonazepam is to gradually reduce dosage or taper off. Detox lasts around five to seven days until your body has rid itself of all traces of the drug. A 2010 study showed tapering doses is the most effective strategy. Daily doses of 73 long-term clonazepam users were reduced by 0.5 ml every two weeks. Doctors reduced the dose by 0.25 ml (when they were taking 1 ml a day) until they stopped using clonazepam altogether.
When you abuse clonazepam, it creates chemical changes in the brain until it becomes used to interactions with the drug and can’t function normally without it.
If you try to quit after you’re developed dependence, the symptoms managed by clonazepam (such as anxiety, insomnia, panic and seizures) return in a more severe form.
The early withdrawal stage lasts two to four days and includes the rebound symptoms mentioned above. Acute withdrawal sets in after early symptoms and lasts one to two weeks after your last dose. Withdrawal symptoms at this stage will include diarrhoea, tremors and insomnia. Late withdrawal sets in from days 14-28 and includes mostly psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, memory lapses, mood swings, irritability, insomnia and hallucinations.
Medications used during detox include:
- Antidepressants to manage suicidal ideation and depression
- Melatonin to treat insomnia
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake pills (such as Prozac and Paxil) to ease withdrawal difficulty
- Anticonvulsants (such as carbamazepine and Tegretol) to treat seizures
Psychological Therapy
Medical detox and pharmacology aren’t enough to treat addiction or prepare you for long-term sobriety. The best approach is a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Effective options for clonazepam addiction include:
CBT is the most effective psychotherapy for treating panic, anxiety and social disorders. The cognitive component helps you change negative patterns holding you back from overcoming your fears. Meanwhile, the behavioural component changes your reaction to situations that make you feel anxiety or panic.
This is therapy that uses incentives and rewards to reinforce positive behaviour. Incentives target the same reward areas of the brain that cause addiction.
For example, you’ll be rewarded with tokens for every milestone, such as passing a urine test.
Risks of Treatment
There are several risks of complications that can occur during clonazepam detox. Severe seizures (associated with long-term drug use) are one such risk, while detoxing from one addiction and switching to another is also a danger. Most medications used during detox have the same sedative properties as clonazepam, so you must be very careful to take them as prescribed by your doctor.
If you detox at home, it is extremely dangerous for long-term users or those who have co-occurring disorders, because withdrawal intensifies symptoms. Trying to get over-the-counter medications might cost you your health if you don’t fully understand the medical condition or know what dose might alleviate symptoms. Instead, detox at a medically-supervised facility to reduce the chance of any complications from treatment.
Ending your Clonazepam Treatment
A frequently asked question regarding addiction is: at what point does treatment end? Withdrawal cravings and discomfort are especially harder on long-term patients – most of whom decide to check-out before treatment is complete.
It’s a mistake to end treatment against medical advice. That’s a straight road that leads to relapse and makes it harder for you to fully recover from drug abuse and its debilitating effects. People leave rehab early because they have the wrong recovery goals, dislike rehab or were forced into treatment to begin with. Talk to your therapist and listen to their advice before making the decision to quit.
What to Expect from Treatment
If you enter rehab with a mindset of recovery and long-term sobriety, you should expect to get better and receive help from addiction specialists and other recovering addicts.
Treatment starts with evaluation to create a treatment plan, after which you’ll detox to remove any drug toxins from your body.
Rehab facilities use a combination of medication and behavioural therapy to treat addiction, teach you to cope with emotions, stressors and triggers and prepare you for life after rehab. Expect random drug tests and activities that keep you busy all day. The first week is the hardest, but with each day that passes, cravings are easier and your brain begins to readjust.
Post-Rehabilitation Support: Live a Sober Life Again
Treatment is a lifelong process, which doesn’t end with rehab. Addiction specialists always advise drug users to choose a rehab facility that offers aftercare, because it is just as important as rehab. Your aftercare plan should include doctor’s appointments to receive medication for cravings and other lingering withdrawal symptoms, as well as scheduled appointments with drug counsellors and therapists and attending community-based meetings such as Narcotics Anonymous.
The Risk of Relapse for Clonazepam Addicts
Clonazepam is a habit-forming benzodiazepine with a high risk of addiction. Benzos cause transient freedom and relaxation from stress. The relaxing feature also triggers the reward centre of the brain. When stimulated, this reinforces drug usage until you build tolerance for the medication and feel a strong urge to keep increasing each dose in order to feel the relaxing effect.
Long-term users are especially at risk of relapse. Addiction is mostly psychological and the hardest part to overcome for most recovering addicts is the cravings associated with drug use. Many report that they still feel the urge to use, even months after rehab and sometimes years after they’ve quit drugs. Other triggers for relapse include environment, stress and co-occurring disorders.
Sober Living Support
Unlike rehab, sober houses are less structured. They are like group homes inhabited by recovering addicts, who want to draw on support from each other and reduce the chances of relapse. There are random drug tests to keep you motivated and you’ll be required to undertake house chores, pay rent, provide your own meals and keep curfew.
Halfway homes are drug-free zones, allowing you to go out during the day and return in the evening. You’re surrounded by people who have the same recovery goals as you.
Peer Counselling
It’s important to build and maintain a network of sober friends and mentors after rehab, as this improves your chances of long-term sobriety. Peer support is an integral part of that support network. Peer counsellors are former drug users, who’ve maintained long-term sobriety and offer invaluable advice and guidance for maintaining abstinence. They’ll work with you on your aftercare plan and help you through the process of re-entering society.
Types of peer counselling include:
- Instrumental peer support: offering money, childcare, transport, healthcare, food and other resources that addicts need to live.
- Information peer support: shares knowledge about addiction
- Emotional peer support: empathises and listens when you need someone to talk to.
Family Therapy
Addiction is a family disease. Therefore, the goal of family therapy is to provide a platform for the family to work through issues and heal as a unit. Family therapy explores the relationships between you (the drug addict) and each individual within the family unit. By identifying and changing negative components, the overall health of the family improves, alongside your chances of long-term sobriety.
Types of family therapy include:
- Multidimensional family therapy (MDFT): suitable for families where a teenager is the drug user
- Family behavioural therapy: suitable for teen and adult drug users
FAQs
What is Clonazepam Addiction Treatment?
Clonazepam addiction treatment is a combination of drug detox, medication and application of behavioural therapy to treat addiction. The first step in addiction treatment is admitting you have a problem and showing a willingness to work with medical professionals and addiction experts to maximise treatment results.
What Recovery Programme is Right for Me?
The best recovery programmes treat both physical and psychological addictions. Those with mild to moderate drug use disorders can register as outpatients. Individuals who have a history of substance abuse (or those who might experience severe withdrawal symptoms during detox) should enrol as inpatients to receive the highest level of care and most suitable medication for withdrawal.
What are Some Common Clonazepam Withdrawal Symptoms?
Withdrawal occurs over a period of 14 days and symptoms include abdominal cramps, sweating, tremors, confusion, seizures, high blood pressure, headaches, irritability, mood swings, nausea and vomiting.
Why do People Start Taking Clonazepam?
Doctors prescribe clonazepam to manage seizures, anxiety and panic disorders.
How is Clonazepam Used and Abused?
Clonazepam is a habit-forming medication that works by calming the brain and nerves. It is taken orally by mouth as prescribed by a doctor, usually twice or three times daily. You abuse clonazepam if you take it in any way not prescribed by your doctor. This includes snorting, smoking, chewing or injecting. It’s also considered abuse if you take larger doses more frequently, without informing your doctor.
What is the Clonazepam ‘High’ like?
It might take up to an hour to feel the effects of clonazepam. It produces sedative qualities that calm the body and relieves restlessness, tension and agitation. The effect lasts between one to two days for clonazepam to leave your body.
What are the Practical Dangers of Clonazepam Usage?
As a habit-forming medication, the major danger is the risk of developing dependence and becoming addicted further down the line. It creates cognitive impairment, as you start forgetting simple details and you’re also at risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Quitting on your own brings life-threatening risks.
What are the Options for Clonazepam Detox?
Options include detoxing at a hospital, rapid detox (to accelerate the process), medically-supervised detox (either at a detox-only centre or rehab) and home detox, where you detox from home with support from friends and loved ones.
What Happens During Treatment?
During treatment, you’ll be provided with medication as each symptom manifests to ease the pain and discomfort associated with withdrawal from benzos. After detox, you’ll transition to rehab, where you’ll work with therapists and drug counsellors to understand your addiction, recognise negative behaviours that fuelled drug use, as well as learn practical techniques that will help you live a sober life.
How long does Inpatient Clonazepam Rehabilitation Take?
Short-term rehab stays last 28 to 30 days and are recommended for those with mild drug use disorder. Long-term rehab stays last 60 to 180 days and are recommended for people with a long-term history of substance abuse and those who have psychological or medical conditions that might complicate treatment.
What are the Risks of Addiction?
For most individuals, it’s impossible to pinpoint the moment when medication for anxiety and panic disorders became problem drug usage. By the time you’re addicted, the fear of withdrawal and facing the consequences of your actions make it harder to quit. Dangers of addiction include: high blood pressure, heart failure, rapid heart rate, infertility, memory problems, Hepatitis, HIV infection, difficulty concentrating, seizures, respiratory depression and death from drug overdose.
Is itPossible to Avoid Addiction and Rehab?
You can avoid addiction and rehab by following your doctor’s orders when taking clonazepam and other prescription pills.
Why Is Treatment Necessary?
The longer you wait, the harder it will be to quit or avoid relapse. Treatment is your best chance at taking back everything you lost whilst under the influence of drugs, restoring your physical and mental health and living a fulfilling, sober life.
What Types of Treatment are Available?
Inpatient and outpatient rehab treatments are available for clonazepam addiction.
What if Clonazepam Addiction goes Untreated?
If addiction goes untreated, the symptoms worsen. With every dose, withdrawal will be harder, cravings more intense and the risk of an overdose increases.
What Happens when You go to a Clonazepam Rehab Centre?
At a rehab centre, you’ll be assessed and evaluated, before being given a room to stay in for the duration of rehab. During the day, you’ll attend doctor appointments, therapy sessions and group counselling sessions. You’ll engage in skill-building sessions, yoga and other alternative therapy models that reduce stress and teach you to stay sober.
How does Being Treated for Clonazepam Addiction Aid Recovery?
Treatment helps you understand addiction and any negative elements in your past that aided drug abuse. It also treats you as a whole – not just the addiction itself -to improve the chances of reversing all side effects from drug abuse.
Do I Need an Inpatient Clonazepam Rehab Facility?
Inpatient rehab maximises the potential for full recovery from drug addiction. There are stressors and temptations in the outside world that could derail your recovery if you register as an outpatient. Inpatient care features 24/7 support and guidance from medical professionals, therapists and your fellow recovering addicts.
Call our admissions line 24 hours a day to get help.