Klonopin (Clonazepam) and Alcohol

Klonopin also know generically as clonazepam is a medication most often used for the short term treatment of anxiety and insomnia. Less often it is used to treat and prevent seizures due to epilepsy. It is not recommended to use Klonopin for long term treatment as there are many unsafe side effects that may develop in addition to physical dependence. Klonopin is relatively safe if taken in the doses it is prescribed. However, it can become dangerous if taken in large amounts or if combined with other substances that are also downers. One of the most common substances combined with Klonopin either by accident or on purpose is alcohol. This combination is very harmful as it increases the chance of adverse side effects. Particularly, it increases the chance of respiratory depression leading to a coma or death.

Klonopin and alcohol dangers

The dangers of combining alcohol and clonazepam are numerous. The main danger is the combination of alcohol and Klonopin increases the likelihood of an overdose occurring. The reason for this is that alcohol is know to potentiate the effects of many medications. Alcohol is particularly effective at potentiating the effects of other downers. It does this by increasing the concentration of GABA within the brain to often dangerous amounts. This results in an increase of the effects of both alcohol and clonazepam on the body and the mind. In addition to increasing the risk of respiratory depression leading to a coma or death this combination can be hard on the liver. With Klonopin and alcohol both effecting the body at the same time the liver can go into a state of overload not being able to process all of the toxins correctly. This allows alcohol to be more toxic to the liver and can result in the shutting down of the liver or contribute to liver disease.

Klonopin and alcohol symptoms

The symptoms of combing alcohol and Klonopin are basically an intensification of the bad side effects already associated with over consuming both substances. One of the most commonly reported side effects of combining alcohol and clonazepam is sedation. This can be dangerous as alcohol is usually consumed in a social setting and passing out in these situations can be frightening as well as embarrassing. Other symptoms include dizziness, vomiting, amnesia, violence, feeling uninhibited, and loss of motor skills. Many who experience this combo have no recollection of the events the next day. The combination of these side effects can lead to those that combine Klonopin and alcohol to do things that they will greatly regret. Often one will take more clonazepam or drink more alcohol after this combo is ingested due to their impaired cognitive ability. This is what often leads to repository depression and coma or death.

Other dangers of alcohol and Klonopin

Another danger of combing alcohol and Klonopin is a reduction in the amount of time for physical dependence to develop. Studies have also shown repeating the combination of Klonopin and alcohol will also lead to a more severe and unpleasant withdrawal. For this reason alcohol should generally be avoided when taking Klonopin.