Drug Profile: Klonopin

Manufacturer: Roche

Generic Name: clonazepam; (brand name Rivotril in Mexico and a similar brand-name spelling in other parts of the world)

Forms:  tablets – should be dissolved in the mouth, not swallowed.

Appearance (What does Klonopin look like?): round tablets with a “K”-shaped hole in the center and imprints of “Roche” and “Klonopin”; the 2 mg tablet is white with a “2” imprinted on one side, the 1 mg tablet is blue with a “1” imprinted on one side, and the 0.5 mg tablet is orange with “1/2” imprinted on one side. Additionally, the wafer tablets are white with imprints corresponding to the dosage in milligrams: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, and 2.

Street Names: k-pins, klonny

Pharmacological Class: benzodiazepine, which also includes such prescription medications as Xanax.

Medical Uses:  Used to treat panic disorder, seizure disorders, bipolar disorder, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, migraines, night terrors, burning mouth syndrome, and withdrawal from benzodiazepines. 

Mechanism of Action:  binds to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors for benzodiazepines influencing GABA’s binding ability with neurons and thereby flooding the neurons with chloride ions. This results in fewer transmissions across the synapses of the CNS (central nervous system). It can quickly cross the blood-brain barrier and is lipid soluble.

Availability: Schedule IV (Read Drug Scheduling and the DEA)

FDA Pregnancy Category: Category D (Read FDA Pregnancy Drug Categories)

Addiction Potential: moderate potential for abuse

Possible Side Effects: involuntary or strange eye movement, pale skin, suicidal ideations, aggression, anxiety, depression, difficulty during urination, hostility, agitation, restlessness, behavioral changes, hallucinations, increased risk-taking propensity, decreased inhibitions, feelings of invincibility, confusion, slurred speech, runny nose, sore gums, headaches, weight gain or loss, constipation, blurred vision, insomnia, increased drooling, fatigue, poor balance, diarrhea, rash, strange cardiac sensations like fluttering or pounding, increase in frequency or intensity of seizures.

Possible Withdrawal Symptoms: the half-life of Klonopin is about 35 hours, which means that withdrawal can begin within 1 to 3 days after last use (Read Back to Sobriety: How Long Different Substances Stay in Your System); potential symptoms include increased seizures, headaches, insomnia, and anxiety problems.

Warning Signs of Abuse: taking Klonopin more frequently than directed by a physician; taking a higher dosage than prescribed; hoarding large amounts of Klonopin; experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms; taking Klonopin via a different method of administration (like snorting or injecting – Read Method of Administration: Why “How” Matters).

Signs of Overdose: fainting spells, disorientation, extreme fatigue, muscle weakness.  Get immediate medical help if you or someone you know has overdosed on Klonopin (Read Overdose: Why It Happens & What to Do When It Does).

Controversies Related to Klonopin:

• Klonopin was being abused by a number of celebrities at the time of their deaths including Anna Nicole Smith and Michael Jackson (Read Michael Jackson & Dangers of Prescription Drug Abuse and The Media’s Portrayal of Celebrity Addictions).
• Miss Russia from 1998, Anna Malova, was arrested in May 2011 after attempting to fill forged, phony prescriptions for Klonopin and Vicodin.
• There is a growing epidemic of teens abusing prescription meds like Klonopin that they find in the homes of family and friends (Read Teen Addiction and Rehab).