How To Get Klonopin Out Of System Fast

Editor Rob Alston

Rob Alston

Rob Alston has traveled around Australia, Japan, Europe, and America as a writer and editor for... read more

Medically Reviewed By Jessica Pyhtila, PharmD

Jessica Pyhtila

Dr. Jessica Pyhtila is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist based in Baltimore, Maryland with practice sites in... read more

Updated on 08/06/21

Clonazepam, the generic form of Klonopin, is a prescription drug commonly prescribed to manage panic, anxiety and seizure disorders. 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.

In short, Klonopin or Clonazepam can remain in your system for up to six to nine days.

Klonopin's Long Half-Life

Many people who are thinking of getting sober wonder how long Klonopin will stay in their system. To determine how long it will remain in your system after your final dose, it's important to consider the half-life of Klonopin's active ingredient, clonazepam.

Clonazepam has a long elimination half-life. The elimination half-life refers to how long it takes for half of a single dose of a drug to leave the body. For clonazepam, its elimination half-life ranges 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. Both Klonopin and its metabolite 7-amino-clonazepam are detectable in the urine for about four days after the last use.

Variables That Influence How Long Klonopin Stays in Your System

On 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 withdrawal 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-excited. 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.

Related Topic: Clonazepam overdose treatment

Getting Treatment for Klonopin Addiction

Once a person becomes addicted to Klonopin, it can be very difficult to stop. People who use the drug regularly and for long periods of time often experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using, which is why they continue using even if they want to stop.

Recovery from clonazepam addiction is possible. The first step to getting help is admitting to yourself that your Klonopin use is no longer healthy. It's easy to downplay the seriousness of your addiction. Many people find it hard to confront their addiction.

By entering an addiction treatment facility, you'll benefit from medically-supervised detox, medication management, treatment of underlying mental health disorders, group and individual therapy and an aftercare treatment plan.

Although recovery may seem impossible, it's important to know that help is available. You don't have to go through this journey alone. The Recovery Village provides rehabilitation services for people from all across the country. Contact us today to discuss treatment options that can meet your needs.

Sources
U.S. National Library of Medicine. "Klonopin." December 18, 2019. Accessed June 21, 2020.

Hallare, Jericho; Gerriets, Valerie. "Half-Life." StatPearls, January 30, 2020. Accessed June 21, 2020.

ARUP Laboratories. "Drug Plasma Half-Life and Urine Detection Window." January 2019. Accessed June 21, 2020.

Medical Disclaimer: The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options, and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited, and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.