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It is important to take this medication as directed by your care team. A special MedGuide will be given to you by the pharmacist with each prescription and refill. Be sure to read this information carefully each time. Most benzodiazepines have similar effects — what makes them different are things like potency, duration of effects, and onset time. You need to inform your doctor if you have any health conditions, as clonazolam may worsen them.

Why Do People Abuse Clonazolam?

How does Clonazolam compare to its cousin Clonazepam? Below is a short summary comparing the two substances in key areas.

  • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Clonazolam is up to 2.5 times stronger than alprazolam (Xanax) and has been found in hundreds of overdose deaths since 2016.
  • Since the therapeutic window of the drug is narrow, side effects like severe sedation are commonly seen and often require treatment with Flumazenil, an antidote for benzodiazepine toxicity.
  • Despite that, it’s widely sold in counterfeit pill or liquid form — and users often don’t realize how potent it is until it’s too late.
  • It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C  to 30 C), for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it.
  • It can cause deep sedation, memory blackouts, and impaired motor function even at low doses.

Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how clonazepam affects you. Do not take clonazepam unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Clonazepam should not be used if your liver is not working as well as it should be.

Why is clonazolam called a designer benzodiazepine?

Talk to your care team about how long you need to take this medication. When it is time to stop, the dose will be slowly lowered over time to reduce the risk of side effects. The drug is highly potent and has a higher risk of severe side effects such as sedation and coma. So, the drug is not considered safe for consumption.

Side Effects

  • Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
  • Gotu Kala (Centella asiatica) is an ancient Chinese herb that has been used for the treatment of anxiety, depression, stress, and other mental health conditions.
  • Clonazolam is also know to produce an extremely intense high.

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific clonazepam products they stock. Clonazolam is typically sold as an illicit drug, but can also show up on prescription drug marketplaces. In the latter case, it may be being sold as Valium or another prescription sedative. If you suspect someone you love is overdosing on clonazolam, contact emergency medical services immediately. An inability to think clearly could cause you to make poor choices, such as driving while under the influence of clonazolam. Pair this with slowed reflexes and sedation, and people could get into fatal car accidents and more.

Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. In some cases, people ingest clonazolam because they were trying to get an approved benzodiazepine on the black market. This can be a result of high prescription drug costs. Also, in some cases people get addicted to prescribed benzodiazepines and want more.

Benzo Withdrawal Timeline

In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Nitrazolam: A Purely Designer Benzodiazepine

Medical detox is absolutely necessary to prevent life-threatening reactions. If you breastfeed while taking this medication, seek medical care right away if you notice the child has slow or noisy breathing, is unusually sleepy or not able to wake up, or is limp. This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions. There are literally hundreds of benzodiazepines available today — most of them are considered designer drugs or research chemicals and have not been approved for use as medicine. Taking the drug for a short time can reduce the risk of dependency.

Is clonazolam approved for therapeutic use?

The drug is available in the form of powder, blotter, liquid, and tablet forms. The common oral administration dose has been reported to be 0.2 to 0.4 mg. A dose of more than 0.5 mg has been found to cause severe sedation and is unsafe for use 3. Since the therapeutic window of the drug is narrow, side effects like severe sedation are commonly seen and often require treatment with Flumazenil, an antidote for benzodiazepine toxicity. Misusing clonazepam can lead to serious side effects like coma or death.

Like other benzodiazepines, Clonazolam alters the brain’s chemical balance, creating dependency quickly. It increases the activity of GABA, which slows down brain function and produces a feeling of calm or euphoria. But the brain soon adjusts to the constant suppression of activity and stops producing GABA naturally. Clonazolam is a synthetic benzodiazepine analog, chemically related to clonazepam (Klonopin) and alprazolam (Xanax). It acts on the brain’s GABA receptors, producing a powerful calming effect by slowing central nervous system activity.

With a high risk of blackouts, overdose, and dependence, Clonazolam is proving to be more than just another street drug—it’s a ticking time bomb in the world of substance abuse. Understanding its dangers, effects, and treatment options is critical as more people fall into its grip. Clonazolam might be one of the most powerful and dangerous designer benzodiazepines ever created.

Overdosing on clonazolam can lead to respiratory depression and death. At Charlotte Detox Center, an affiliate of Carolina Center what is clonazolam for Recovery, we aim to provide readers with the most accurate and updated healthcare information possible. We adhere to strict accuracy guidelines and only reference credible sources when providing information on our website. Clonazolam exists in a legal gray area in many places, as it was never approved for medical use and is often classified as a designer benzodiazepine. Unlike prescription benzodiazepines like Clonazepam (Klonopin) or Alprazolam (Xanax), Clonazolam is not regulated by the FDA, making its legality dependent on specific national and state laws.