Does Klonopin Help With Depression

What Are The Signs Of Klonopin Addiction

In addition to being highly addictive, Klonopin has the ability to ensnare users in a continuous loop. How? When someone begins to use Klonopin to treat anxiety, spasms or seizures, they can quickly establish a tolerance. At that point, they will begin to take larger doses to gain the same effect a smaller dose once yielded.

This is in line with how the National Institute on Drug Abuse defines drug dependence, which is when the body adapts to the drug, requiring more of it to achieve a certain effect and eliciting drug-specific physical or mental symptoms if drug use is abruptly ceased .

When Klonopin users attempt to quit the drug and experience withdrawal, they will suffer some of the same symptoms that led them to the medication in the first place. So, they resume use, which creates that loop.

• Getting into financial and/or legal trouble because of Klonopin
• Mixing Klonopin with alcohol or other drugs

If you or a loved one is in the clutches of a Klonopin addiction, then it is imperative that you seek professional addiction treatment services.

It Tolerable For Everyone

As mentioned above, Klonopin is capable of generating addiction and tolerance in the person. So, it is highly contraindicated for the person to increase the dose. Take it for longer than necessary or disobey the instructions indicated by medical personnel.

The benefits of Klonopin can help a person manage the symptoms produced by the disorder or disease that he suffers from however, this will not remit completely. For this, it will be necessary to accompany the pharmacological treatment with other medications and some type of psychotherapy.

How Clonazepam Is Administered

Clonazepam is available as an orally disintegrating tablet or a tablet. If youve been prescribed the pills, you must take them with water. If you have a disintegration tablet, place it on or under your tongue and let it dissolve before swallowing. Its not necessary to take with water.

Clonazepam is typically taken one to three times a day, and you can take the dose with or without food. Benzodiazepines like clonazepam cause a reduction of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which is the reason its used to treat anxiety. The effects of clonazepam for social anxiety symptoms are experienced quickly, but other potential benefits can take longer.

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The Dangers Of Clonazepam Use

First off, when Clonazepam consumption is mixed with opioid drugs like hydrocodone, codeine, and tramadol, symptoms such as intense drowsiness, decreased respiratory function, coma, and death occur. Therefore, if a patient is prescribed opioids while on Clonazepam, the doctor will monitor the patient closely. Thus, taking opioids not prescribed by a medical doctor along with Clonazepam without cautious monitoring can result in an increased risk of dangerous effects.

Secondly, since Clonazepam is a central nervous system depressant it slows the patients response time, which can interfere with a humans brain activity, judgment, and thinking. Alcohol consumption or other depressant drug use in combination with Clonazepam dangerously slows brain activity making it extremely dangerous to drive or use machinery which requires alertness. Until the user knows how Clonazepam impacts their individual functioning, he or she should avoid these tasks.

Additionally, Clonazepam can increase and intensify the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior, which are classified as thoughts or actions of harming oneself.

Why Do People Abuse Benzodiazepines

Because so many more people are taking benzodiazepines than ever before, it makes sense that more people would be abusing them. But the question is, why? There are a few reasons, according to the latest studies mentioned in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry:

• 46.3% of people reported abusing benzos because they wanted to relax or relieve tension.
• 22.4% stated that they wanted help falling asleep faster.
• 5.7% stated that they were only experimenting when they took benzodiazepines.
• 11.8% stated that they abused them because they enjoyed the high or because they were addicted to them.

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Cautions With Other Medicines

Some medicines interfere with the way clonazepam works and increase the chance of you having side effects.

Before you start taking clonazepam, tell a doctor if you’re taking:

• anticonvulsants, used to treat epilepsy
• antipsychotics and antidepressants, used to treat mental health problems and depression
• hypnotics, used to treat anxiety or sleep problems
• medicines used to treat muscle spasms, such as baclofen or tizanidine
• medicines used to lower blood pressure including ACE inhibitors such as enalapril and lisinopril calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine and felodipine and diuretics such as indapamide and bendroflumethiazide
• drowsy antihistamines, such as chlorphenamine or promethazine
• strong painkillers such as codeine, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, pethidine or tramadol
• cimetidine, a medicine for stomach problems and heartburn
• rifampicin or antifungal medicines such as fluconazole

Clonazepam Physical Side Effects

Clonazepam use causes many physical side effects, and these side effects can lead to emotional difficulties in the person using the drug and in his or her family members. Some of these side effects include the following:

• Changes in sex drive or ability

Each of these side effects interferes with a persons ability to perform normal tasks, carry on healthy conversations, or simply be present in a family. Seeing your loved one struggle with confusion or the inability to remember places or people can lead to anxiety or depression. Having to care for a loved one who needs constant supervision due to dizziness or unsteadiness can result in sleep deprivation and exhaustion in the care giver. If you have a loved one who is dependent on or addicted to clonazepam, getting counseling or joining a support group can help you deal with your own emotional health.

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Klonopin Abuse Leads To Depression

One of the short-term side effects of low-to-moderate doses of any benzodiazepine, including Klonopin, is depression. Symptoms may begin as the drug is metabolized out of your body, or they may appear at the drugâs peak effects on your brain since it is a sedative. If you take this medication for more than a couple of weeks or abuse it for nonmedical reasons, the drug can build up in your body. Side effects from the slower release of these drugs from body tissues can lead to depression-like symptoms, especially during detox or withdrawal.

Other Uses For This Medicine

Clonazepam is also used to treat symptoms of akathisia that may occur as a side effect of treatment with antipsychotic medications and to treat acute catatonic reactions . Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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Dual Diagnosis Treatment For Benzodiazepine Addiction And Depression

Benzodiazepine addiction is most common in individuals with a co-occurring mental health disorder like depression. People seeking treatment for benzodiazepine addiction with co-occurring depression should search for facilities that are staffed by medical professionals experienced in treating co-occurring mental health disorders.

Medication management may be necessary to assist in relieving depressive symptoms. In these cases, antidepressant medications are typically prescribed because of their low risk of abuse and dependence. Avoiding the use of medications specifically produced for anxiety treatment may prevent setbacks

If you or a loved one struggles with addiction and a co-occurring mental health condition like depression, help is available at treatment centers across the country. The Recovery Village offers comprehensive treatment for substance use and co-occurring disorders. For more information about our care options, contact us today.

Measurement Of Efficacy And Safety

The primary measurement of treatment efficacy was the change in the total score on the Hamilton depression scale from baseline. Secondary estimates of efficacy were based on declaring each patient as a responder or nonresponder to treatment, operationally defined as follows: 1) reduction of the total score on the Hamilton depression scale 2) a clinicians rating of much improved or very much improved on the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement and 3) the patients report of much improved or very much improved as a global impression of improvement on a 17 scale paralleling the descriptors used by clinicians.

The safety of the treatment program was assessed by monitoring vital signs, repeating laboratory tests and ECG at endpoint, and systematically recording all adverse events in text and by coding according to a body-system classification. Plasma drug concentrations were not determined in this study.

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Getting Help For Klonopin Addiction And Depression

If you think youre addicted to Klonopin, making the decision to seek treatment is the first step on the road to recovery. That road usually starts with some form of inpatient treatment. This takes place in a residential center where youll live for 29 to 90 days.

Theres a combination of individual and group therapy, medically supervised detox, twelve-step programs, and support groups offered at these centers. Detox consists of a slow, tapered withdrawal under the close supervision of a medical team.

During therapy, youll learn more adaptive ways to deal with stress than abusing the drug. This means internalizing strategies to cope with difficult life situations, so youre not tempted to use the drug as an escape. Also, theyll teach relapse prevention.

Is Klonopin Used For Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. You might worry about things like health, money, or family problems. But people with a generalized anxiety disorder feel extremely worried or feel nervous about these and other thingseven when it is little or no reason to worry about them. People with GAD find it difficult to control their anxiety and stay focused on daily tasks.

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Drugs That Increase The Risk Of Side Effects

Taking clonazepam with certain other medications may cause more side effects. Examples of these drugs include:

• Benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam, clonazepam, triazolam, and midazolam. A person may feel more sedated and drowsy.
• Opioids, such as codeine and hydrocodone. Taking these drugs with clonazepam puts a person at serious risk of severe drowsiness, slowed breathing, coma, or death.
• Barbiturate and nonbarbiturate sleep drugs, such as amobarbital, butabarbital, eszopiclone, pentobarbital, zaleplon, and zolpidem. A person may feel more sedated and drowsy.
• Other drugs used to treat anxiety, such as buspirone and hydroxyzine. A person may feel more sedated and drowsy.
• Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline. A person may feel more sedated and drowsy.
• Other drugs used to treat seizures, such as gabapentin and pregabalin. A person may feel more sedated and drowsy.

Keep these considerations in mind if a doctor prescribes clonazepam oral tablet.

How Clonazepam Affects Depression

If youre struggling with depression while using clonazepam, you should discuss any personal or family history of the disorder. Its especially true in those who have a family history of depression. Clonazepam can cause behavior changes, severe mood swings, agitation, aggressiveness, irritability, and nervousness. If someone becomes addicted to clonazepam, its important to diagnose underlying mental illness as a part of their treatment.

Clonazepam slows chemicals in the brain that could become unbalanced. Most who use the drug will have physical side effects that diminish with time, but it can affect depression severely.

Emotional side effects of clonazepam include:

• Inability to concentrate

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What Is The Best Mood Stabilizer For Bipolar

There are many mood stabilizers that are used to treat bipolar disorder. Lithium is the most commonly used mood stabilizer and it is used to treat both mania and depression.Quetiapine is also used to treat both mania and depression, but it is more effective in the maintenance phase of bipolar disorder. Lurasidone and lamotrigine are not as commonly used as lithium or quetiapine, but they are essential in the treatment of mania. Lurasidone is not as effective as lithium in the treatment of depression, but it is better than lamotrigine in the treatment of mania.

How Is Klonopin Abused

People addicted to Klonopin will often start out taking larger doses of the pills to get high or increase the effectiveness of the medication. They may also start taking the drug with alcohol, or crushing and snorting the pills to get them to take effect faster. Because Klonopin comes with a risk of addiction and increased tolerance levels, doctors will typically prescribe Klonopin for shorter periods, usually two weeks or less.

People who take Klonopin as prescribed can even build a tolerance to the drug. But for those who abuse the medication, they can build a tolerance very quickly, increasing the likelihood of addiction. Cutting back or quitting the drug when someone has built up a physical tolerance to the substance will result in withdrawal symptoms.

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Depression Increases The Risk Of Abusing Substances Like Klonopin

Research suggests that about 20 percent of Americans who have depression or anxiety also struggle with a substance use disorder, and similarly, about 20 percent of people who have a substance use disorder also struggle with mood disorders like depression or anxiety. People who struggle with depression are at greater risk of abusing prescription medications, especially those that are more addictive, such as benzodiazepines like Klonopin.

Abusing drugs releases serotonin and dopamine into the brain, elevating mood, relieving some pain, and improving physical energy. Though Klonopin is a sedative, use temporarily releases neurotransmitters to make you happier. This can lead to compulsive consumption of the drug.

How Do You Get Bipolar Depression

Some people are more likely to develop bipolar disorder than others. For example, if you have a first-degree relative, like a parent or sibling, who has bipolar disorder, you may be at a higher risk of developing the disorder yourself. Other factors that can increase your chance of developing bipolar disorder include periods of high stress, such as the death of a loved one or other traumatic event. Finally, people who abuse drugs or alcohol also tend to have an increased risk of developing bipolar disorder.

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What You Need To Know About Klonopin: The Major Side Effects

Using or abusing Klonopin is not without side effects. Like many prescription drugs, this benzodiazepine is no safer than an illicit street drug when its abused. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 20.4 million people are lifetime abusers of benzodiazepines like Klonopin. If youre one of them, you may already be experiencing adverse consequences of the medication.

Drug Interactions Of Klonopin Vs Xanax

Klonopin and Xanax are primarily metabolized, or processed, in the liver by the CYP3A4 enzyme. CYP3A4 inhibitors can increase blood levels of these benzodiazepines, which can result in increased adverse effects. CYP3A4 inhibitors include antifungals like ketoconazole as well as antibiotics like erythromycin.

CYP3A4 inducers can speed up the metabolism of Klonopin or Xanax and, ultimately, decrease their effectiveness. CYP3A4 inducers include anticonvulsant drugs like phenytoin and carbamazepine, among others.

Because Klonopin and Xanax have CNS depressant effects, they can interact with other drugs that have similar effects. Taking benzodiazepines with drugs such as opioids and tricyclic antidepressants can increase the risk of severe drowsiness, respiratory depression, and even death, especially in large doses.

This may not be a complete list of all possible drug interactions. Consult a doctor with all the medications you may be taking.

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Do Benzodiazepines Cause Depression

Misconceptions involving benzodiazepines being produced to treat depression are common. Considering the benzodiazepine depression relationship, it is reasonable to question if benzodiazepines not only help with depression but also if they can cause depression.

Research has shown that people with pre-existing depression or a predisposition to depression are more likely to experience a depressive episode or increase existing levels of depression induced from the use of benzodiazepines.

What Are The Signs Of Depression And What Causes It

Depression is the most commonly diagnosed mood disorder in the United States. It is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, guilt, loneliness, or emptiness. Depression impacts how you see the world, yourself, and your relationships. It can be very damaging to your ability to function, whether you struggle to get out of bed some mornings or have consistent low-level pessimism.

Several depressive disorders are under the umbrella term âdepression.â

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Subject Characteristics At Baseline

The efficacy group ranged in age from 20 to 73 years and averaged 41.5 years. More than 90% identified themselves as Caucasians, and the study group consisted of almost equal numbers of men and women . The research subjects had an average of 14 years of education . No significant differences were found on any of these demographic variables. At baseline, the two 40-subject treatment groups had identical mean ratings of 4.4 on the Clinical Global Impression of Severity and similar mean scores on the Hamilton depression scale: 21.7 for the clonazepam-plus-fluoxetine treatment group and 22.6 for the placebo-plus-fluoxetine group.

What Side Effects Can Klonopin Cause

Common side effects may vary depending on the diagnosis, and can include:

• frequent urination

• behavioral problems

It is recommended that you wait to drive or operate machinery until you know how the medication affects you. It is also recommended that people avoid alcohol and illegal drugs while on the medication, as they can worsen adverse effects. Moreover, taking the medication at bedtime may be preferred because of its tendency to cause drowsiness. Report side effects to your doctor immediately. Serious side effects can include rash, hives, hoarseness, trouble breathing, swelling, or difficulty breathing or swallowing. You can also report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or online.

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