Dangers of Klonopin Recreational Use

Klonopin, a commonly prescribed sedative medication works well as a treatment for conditions involving anxiety and seizure disorders. When taken as prescribed, Klonopin corrects for abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which accounts for anxiety and seizure-type states.

On the other hand, Klonopin recreational use brings with it a host of problems and dangers, many of which don’t become apparent until addiction to the drug sets in. According to the U. S. National Library of Medicine, Klonopin should only be used as a short-term treatment solution; otherwise, users open themselves up to the risk of abuse and addiction.

The dangers of Klonopin recreational use stem from the drug’s ongoing effects on brain chemical pathways, which place users in a vulnerable state in cases where dosage amounts are reduced or stopped altogether. With long-term use, Klonopin recreational use can ultimately cause brain damage making it all the more difficult to stop taking the drug.

Medical Uses

Klonopin interacts directly with the brain’s GABA-producing brain receptor sites. GABA, one of many neurotransmitter chemicals, works to reduce neural activity in general.

In effect, Klonopin reduces electrical activity in the brain by quieting overexcited cell sites. For people suffering from anxiety and seizure-type disorders, this reduction in electrical activity works to relieve symptoms that originate from these conditions.

For people with normal brain activity, Klonopin recreational use can cause chemical imbalances to develop throughout brain. These conditions leave users susceptible to any number of psychological and even physical problems.

Physical Dependency & Withdrawal

Whether taken for medical reasons or used for recreational purposes, the brain can become physically dependent on Klonopin’s effects when taken for longer than 30 days. Symptoms of physical withdrawal indicate affected brain cells have lost their ability to function normally on their own.

Withdrawal symptoms may take the form of –

• Feelings of depression
• Panic episodes
• Loss of weight
• Hypersensitivity
• Increased blood pressure
• Paranoia
• Increased heart rate
• Anxiety

For people who engage in Klonopin recreational use, symptoms of withdrawal become even more so intense.

Withdrawal Syndrome

Klonopin recreational use takes a considerable toll on the brain’s ability to regulate bodily processes. A condition known as benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome can result in cases where a person tries to reduce dosage amounts or stop using altogether. This condition leaves users in a state of perpetual withdrawal that can last from a couple months to a year.

Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome can also develop in cases where the drug is used as a long-term anxiety treatment. Should a person decide to stop taking the drug, he or she may experience even more severe anxiety symptoms than before.

Potential for Brain Damage

Klonopin recreational use comes with a high probability for brain damage because of ongoing abnormal electrical activity. Under these conditions, users have developed both a physical and psychological dependency on the drug at which point addiction has taken hold.

For people who engage in long-term Klonopin recreational use, the effects of damaged brain regions can bring on the following symptom array –

• Insomnia
• Delirium tremens
• Tremors in the extremities
• Panic attacks

At this point, most people require professional drug treatment help in order to stop ongoing drug use.