How Long Does Klonopin Stay In Your System?
Klonopin is a benzodiazepine (or benzo) that is used to treat panic disorder and seizures. Its effects can last several hours but the drug can stay in the system for over a week after the last dose. How long it can be detected depends on the type of drug test used.
Klonopin is the brand name for the central nervous system (CNS) depressant and long-acting prescription benzodiazepine clonazepam. It’s used in the short-term treatment of mental health disorders like panic disorder, panic attacks, anxiety disorders, and seizure disorders.
How long the prescription drug stays in your body can depend on a number of factors but the effects likely last about 6-8 hours. That being said, the drug has a long half-life and can stay in your system anywhere from 6-9 days.
Klonopin Drug Testing
Drug tests can detect the presence of Klonopin or its metabolite 7-amino-clonazepam for anywhere from 5-30 days depending on the type of drug testing that’s used.
But because it can be difficult to test and/or detect Klonopin and other benzodiazepines, testers need to screen for it specifically to detect it.
The tests and their detection times/detection windows for Klonopin include::
- urine tests: up to 30 days after last dose
- hair tests: up to 90 days after last dose
- blood tests 5-6 days after last dose
- saliva tests: 5-6 days after last dose
Half-Life Of Klonopin
Klonopin’s half-life is pretty long when compared to other medications. Its half-life is 30-40 hours. This means that it takes about that long for half of a single dose of Klonopin to exit your system.
Theoretically, this means that a full dose would be gone in 60-80 hours but there are lots of factors that can make the timing differ from person to person.
Factors Affecting How Long Klonopin Stays In Your System
How long Klonopin stays in your system and the amount of time it can be detected can differ from person to person based on a variety of factors. These factors can include:
- age
- health
- weight
- metabolism
- frequency of Klonopin use
- duration of use
- taking additional medications
- overall health
- liver function
- dosage (low vs. high)
Klonopin Abuse Potential
Klonopin is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance by the FDA. This means that it has a low potential for abuse compared to other drugs, but it still has the possibility of leading to physical dependence and drug addiction.
When Klonopin is abused over a long period of time, physical dependency is a very real problem. If you build up a physical dependence and then try to quit taking the drug, serious and sometimes life-threatening withdrawal symptoms can occur.
A detox program is often recommended for those who have abused Klonopin because of how dangerous these symptoms can be.
Side Effects Of Klonopin
Klonopin works by slowing the central nervous system. It does this by binding to the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain. This increases the GABA levels and slows the stimulation of the nerve cells.
No matter how long Klonopin stays in your system or whether you use it as prescribed or abuse the benzodiazepine, the drug can create a number of different side effects, including:
- feelings of tiredness
- depression
- irritability
- dizziness
- changes in blood pressure
- coordination and balance issues
- problems with concentration
- memory and attention problems
- nausea
- loss of appetite
Klonopin Addiction Treatment
If you or a loved one live with Klonopin abuse or Klonopin addiction and need substance abuse treatment in Ohio, our clinicians are here to help you.
When you choose us for addiction treatment, we can assist you in building a treatment plan that’s customized for you. Your plan may include any of the addiction treatment options we offer, including detox, inpatient drug rehab, and aftercare support.
For more information on how you can start on your road to recovery, please call our helpline today.
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Benzodiazepenes-2020_1.pdf
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/017533s053,020813s009lbl.pdf
- National Library of Medicine: DailyMed https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=542f22e8-dad2-47a8-93b6-30936715d73b
- National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682279.html
- National Library of Medicine: StatPearls https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556010/