Clonazepam, brand-name Klonopin, is a benzodiazepine that can remain in the body for up to six to nine days. This article will cover how long to expect the drug in one’s system and the factors that influence the time it takes to safely remove it from your system.
Clonazepam has a long elimination half-life, with typical elimination half-life ranging from 30 to 40 hours. This means that it will take between one to two days for just 50% of Klonopin to leave your system. It can take roughly 5 half-lives for a drug to completely leave your body. Based on the estimate of clonazepam's 30- to 40-hour half-life, Klonopin is likely to stay in your system for approximately six to nine days after your final dose.
In short, Klonopin or Clonazepam can remain in your system for up to six to nine days.
Variables That Influence How Long Klonopin Stays in Your System
Average, Klonopin takes six to nine days to leave your system. However, it depends on the person using the drug. Some variables that influence how long it takes to leave your system include:
-
Age
-
Liver function
-
Dosage (low vs. high)
-
Frequency of use
-
Duration of use
-
Use of other drugs
Will Klonopin Misuse Show on a Drug Test?
Like other benzodiazepines, Klonopin is detectable on a standard drug test. If you’re taking Klonopin as prescribed by a doctor, you’ll need to bring a doctor’s note with you to your drug test.
How Long Does Klonopin Take to Peak?
The desired effects of Klonopin typically become noticeable within one to four hours of taking the medication orally. This is why it isn't typically prescribed for the short-term treatment of panic or anxiety. Medications such as Xanax and Ativan are much more effective for the treatment of these disorders since they start working within minutes.
Klonopin Withdrawal Risks
As stated previously, knowing how long a drug can stay in someone's system can help identify a possible addiction or overdose situation or can help calculate the time someone may withdraw from the drug and seek medical help. Someone who has taken Klonopin regularly and then tries to stop cold turkey may go into withdrawal. Benzo withdrawal can be very dangerous if the person is not receiving medical care. Since Klonopin enhances the effects of GABA, calming the central nervous system, withdrawal means the opposite occurs, and the central nervous system gets over-exited. This can lead to effects, including:
-
Seizures
-
Hallucinations
-
Shaking
-
Stomach cramps
-
Muscle cramps
Klonopin Overdose
Anyone who takes more than the recommended dose of Klonopin or takes the recommended dose too frequently is at risk of overdosing. There are several risk factors that increase the likelihood of overdose, including using multiple drugs, other psychiatric illnesses and addiction. Taking too much Klonopin can cause dangerous physical effects, including:
-
Somnolence
-
Confusion
-
Coma
-
Diminished reflexes
If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms after taking Klonopin, call 911 immediately.
