Klonopin (Clonazepam)

Description

Klonopin is a popular brand name of the generic drug Clonazepam which is frequently used to treat anxiety, panic attacks and convulsions (fits). This unique drug belongs to the benzodiazepine class of (benzos) psychotropics and shares some similarities with other members of the class including diazepam, temazepam, and alprazolam. What makes Klonopin unique is that unlike other members of the group, Klonopin can be used with other medications to battle disorders and the withdrawal symptoms are comparatively far less severe. However Klonopin can cause memory problems, drowsiness and confusion sometimes. When you take Klonopin , the drug molecules bind to the benzodiazepine site of the GABA receptors which are responsible for the action of GABA which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. A neurotransmitter transmits nerves impulses across the junctions and as GABA is an inhibitory one, it reduces certain brain activities resulting in a calm, satisfied, sleepy mood. This effect also causes muscle relaxation and prevents fits.

How To Take

Klonopin is available as a tablet and comes in 0.5, 1mg and 2mg and the doses can drastically vary depending upon the condition and the person. The initial daily dose will be lower and depend on how the body responds and tolerate, it can go up. The dosage adjustment will be slow and may take a few weeks so you have to be patient. This drug should be discontinued gradually ideally 0.125 mg two times a day every 3 days until the drug is completely withdrawn. As a benzodiazepine, Klonopin is addictive and if you useKlonopin for 4 weeks or more, it's likely that your body will develop a tolerance so it's crucial to take it exactly as prescribed. You can take it with or without food and it’s advised to swallow the tablet without chewing or crushing it.

Precautions

Klonopin should never be taken by people who have had an allergic reaction to it or another benzodiazepine drug such as diazepam. Another unique feature with Klonopin is that it can increase the saliva production which can worsen existing airway diseases like asthma or COPD so they better avoid. Liver and the kidneys are important for the metabolism and excretion of Klonopin so those with long standing liver diseases like cirrhosis and kidney issues better take doctor’sadvice before using as it can lead to accumulation of toxic levels of the drug. As Klonopin is a nervous system depressant, you should never use it with other depressants, such as alcohol, sleeping pills, or tranquilizers which can dangerously depress the overall brain activity and increase your risk of experiencing some of the side effects.

Klonopin is not safe to be used in pregnancy as studies found harmful effects on the fetus (unborn child) like malformations, poor brain development, miscarriages and floppy baby syndrome. Therefore, FDA has placed it in the ‘Category D’ urging you to avoid it while pregnant or if planning to become pregnant. Even the nursing mothers should not use it as sizable concentrations of Klonopin were found in breastmilk which can cause dependency in the baby.

People who are taking Klonopin for the first time may feel drowsy and mentally sluggish in the first few days which is completely normal but they should not drive or operate dangerous machinery in such instances.

Side Effects

All drugs come with side effects. Many of them usually are minor, some are just an inconvenience but a few are serious and need medical care. Klonopin also has minor but common side effects which are sedation, dizziness, impaired coordination, hyper salivation (increased saliva), fatigue, nausea, and constipation. Usually, these effects are temporary and do not require urgent medical care. Serious side effects include trouble breathing or swallowing, suicidal thoughts, chest pains, reduced urine volume, swelling of your face, lips, or tongue and features of allergy.

A full blown allergic reaction is extremely dangerous and calls for emergency care. Typical symptoms are hives, itching, difficulty in breathing, rash etc. If you experience any of the above, better rush to the ER. Long term use of Klonopin (more than 4 months) warrants routine blood checkups as it can alter the blood cell counts. (eg, low platelet count)

The above features are not a complete list so better read the drug description catalog and ask your doctor for more features.

Using Klonopin For Panic Attacks

Panic attacks are a subgroup of the anxiety disorder and characterized by repeated attacks of sudden periods of intense fear. The sufferers develop a ‘fight or flight’ response as they feel that something really bad is going to happen. Being a fairly common conditionaffectingabout 2.5% of people at some point in their life, panic disorders can sometimes be difficult to tackle. Nevertheless Klonopin as demonstrated its ability to handle a number of panicdisorders in a number of trials. In a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 62% of patients receiving Klonopin were free of panic attacks, compared to 37% of placebo-treated patients which is astounding.A typical adult dose to treat panic disorder may start at 0.25 mg twice a day. After three days, your doctor may increase the dose to 1 mg a day if it's well tolerated. However, as Klonopin is not suitable for long term use, it's mostly used for relieving short-term anxiety/panic attacks or for immediate relief.

Using Klonopin For Preventing Fits

There is no known medical treatment for epilepsy so it cannot be cured completely but it's possible to prevent epileptic fits using drugs like Klonopin.Klonopin works bystabilizing the electrical activity of the brain and you need to take the medication every day to control fits. A study done by Virgen de la Arrixaca Hospital, Murcia, Spain, using 33 patients revealed that Klonopin , when given on a fixed schedule, is capable of preventing most fits of adult patients. The usual initial dosage for adults is1.5 mg/day divided into three doses per day and the doctor will gradually increase the dose in increments of 0.5 to 1 mg every 3 days until the fits are adequately controlled. Klonopin can also be given to epileptic children for preventing the attacks. Klonopin occasionally affects the blood as a side effect. Therefore, if you/patient seemto be getting more infections than usual or tends to bruise easily, better stop right way and contact the doctor.

Can You Order Klonopin Online?

Yes, it is possible. But not at all recommended, especially for recreational use. As Klonopin is a Schedule IV prescription only drug, it's illegal to buy or keep it without a legal prescription. Although if you manage get your hand on some online drugs without any legal ramification, it's possible the drugs are counterfeited or outdated so be careful.