Klonopin (Clonazepam) Overdose: Signs, Symptoms, & Treatment

What Is Klonopin (Clonazepam) & What Is it Used For?

Klonopin belongs to a class of benzodiazepine drugs. It produces calming or sedating effects on the brain and nerves by affecting levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the body. It takes about twenty minutes to show its effect, which may last a few days. It is used to prevent and control seizures and is also used to treat panic disorders.¹

Can You Overdose on Klonopin?

Klonopin overdose can occur when someone uses more than prescribed. Combining Klonopin with opiates for surgical sedation is also a common cause of overdose. People take Klonopin with other sedatives, alcohol, or illegal substances (interactions) to get intoxicated, which also results in a drug overdose.

Factors that may contribute to a drug overdose include pre-existing health conditions, age, body weight, genetics, and substance misuse.² To minimize the risk of overdose, doctors recommend close monitoring with lower doses for limited periods. If an overdose does occur, most individuals can recover successfully with supportive care to stabilize breathing, airway, and circulation.

When Should You Seek Help for a Klonopin Overdose?

Seek immediate medical attention by calling 911 if you suspect a Klonopin overdose. Critical symptoms of a potential overdose include excessive sleepiness, slurred speech, passing out, or breathing difficulties.

Symptoms of a Klonopin Overdose

Taking more than a daily maximum dose of 20 mg may contribute to drug overdose with early signs like tiredness, slurred speech, and dizziness.

Overdose symptoms may progress differently for each person based on how much Klonopin was taken, the tolerance the person has built up, and their body weight. The effects of an overdose may not become immediately obvious. Seeking immediate medical care is critical to prevent death if breathing difficulties, unconsciousness, and coma occur due to drug overdose.¹

Mild to moderate symptoms of a Klonopin overdose may include:

• Confusion
• Excessive sleepiness
• Blurry vision
• Speech difficulty (dysarthria)
• Headache
• Diminished reflexes (movements)
• Impaired coordination or balance
• Lethargy

Severe symptoms of Klonopin overdose include:

• Slowed breathing
• Coma

What Dosage of Klonopin Could Be Fatal?

Typically the maximum adult daily dose should not exceed 20 mg for treating seizures and 4 mg daily dose for panic disorders. Otherwise, the side effect risks outweigh the benefits if the drug dose is increased or taken frequently for longer than prescribed. Mixing Klonopin with alcohol, opioids, and other sedatives can intensify that risk even at a standard prescribed dose.

What Can Cause a Klonopin Overdose?

Klonopin overdose is a result of taking more than the prescribed amount. It can occur from intentional misuse or may occur by accident.

Taking More Than the Prescribed Dosage

People may take more than the prescribed Klonopin dosage accidentally when no harm is intended or intentionally for self-harm. If taken with alcohol, opioids, or both, their combined effect can be deadly.

Taking Klonopin with Other Substances

Simultaneous use of Klonopin with any prescription or over-the-counter substances can potentially increase the risk of a harmful drug overdose. Due to this interaction, using Klonopin with antidepressants, antipsychotics, or antiseizure drugs, opioids, barbiturates, or alcohol is risky and not recommended.¹

Substances that can increase the risk of a Klonopin overdose when used together include:

• Alcohol: Mixing alcohol and Klonopin increases each other’s intoxicating effects and together may lead to Klonopin overdose. People experience drowsiness and lack of coordination, raising the person’s risk of a fall injury.³
• Kratom: Kratom is an herbal substance made from the leaves of a tree in southeast Asia. The leaves of this tree have calming effects but may lead to increased sedation and death when combined with Klonopin.⁴
• Kava Kava: This is an herbal product used to treat anxiety. When used with Klonopin, side effects may be amplified, such as drowsiness, confusion, incoordination, difficulty concentrating, and breathing problems.⁵
• Ginkgo biloba: This herb is an alternative medicine for improving mental functioning. It may decrease the anticonvulsant effects of Klonopin, increasing the risk of seizures.⁶
• Melatonin: This over-the-counter (OTC) dietary supplement helps maintain the wake-sleep cycle. When used with Klonopin, the impact of side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating may be elevated.⁷

Taking Klonopin With Other Medications

When Klonopin is ingested with drugs like opiates, antidepressants, anti-anxiety, allergy, and cough drugs, there is a risk of significant adverse drug events and even death. Tell your prescriber about any prescription, over-the-counter, or recreational drugs you take to prevent the risk of misuse and possible overdose.

Medications that can increase the risk of a Klonopin overdose when taken together include:

• Antipsychotics: Antipsychotic medications are used to treat schizophrenia and have the potential for Klonopin overdose. Together they produce cumulative sedative effects, making it essential to closely monitor the use of both medications together.⁸
• Opioid analgesics: Using opioids increases Klonopin’s effect on slowed breathing and raises the risk of a life-threatening overdose. If combined, limit the doses and duration of each drug.⁹
• Phenytoin: Klonopin has the potential to alter phenytoin levels. Monitoring of phenytoin concentration is recommended when using Klonopin due to phenytoin toxicity.¹⁰
• Ambien: Ambien is a sleep aid that, when used with Klonopin, may increase side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating.¹¹
• Clarithromycin: Some antibiotics may increase Klonopin levels in the body, elevating the risk of overdose. This effect may be due to the same enzyme reaction involved in the mechanism of both drugs.¹¹

Can a Klonopin Overdose Cause Complications?

If someone overdoses on Klonopin, they may be able to recover without complications if they receive immediate supportive care. This care should address airway, breathing, circulation, and time alone. The speed of recovery depends on how quickly treatment begins after symptoms appear.

Generally, the quicker treatment starts, the faster the recovery process. However, if the person has underlying health issues or taking other drugs,the chances of recovery are reduced. Additionally, drug interactions, alcohol, or recreational substances can affect the recovery period.

Can You Become Addicted to Klonopin?

Yes, it is possible to become addicted to Klonopin. Factors that may increase the risk of addiction include long-term Klonopin use, high daily dose, frequent misuse, injection, methadone maintenance treatment, and lack of drug information.

Klonopin can lead to addiction due to its calming and sedating effects, creating a false sense of security, relaxation, and freedom from stress. It leads to drug tolerance and physical dependence, where larger doses than prescribed are required for the same effect, resulting in drug addiction. The risk of addiction is higher when it is used excessively or improperly.

Seeking Professional Help for a Klonopin Overdose

When someone has overdosed and feels dizzy, has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, call 911 and go directly to a hospital emergency department to get evaluated. This is especially important if the person does not respond, react normally, or wake up. Poison control centers can be reached through a toll-free line (1-800-222-1222).

New or worse behavior or mood changes like depression or thoughts of suicide, thoughts of harming someone, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), losing contact with reality, moving around, or talking a lot may also be related to a drug overdose.

Here is information important to share when seeking treatment for a Klonopin overdose:

• Current signs and symptoms
• Regular dosage amount
• Intake frequency
• The time it was taken
• Prescribed or non-prescribed
• Other prescription medications, over-the-counter, vitamins, or natural products
• Presence or absence of alcohol and illegal drug use
• Individual’s age, weight, and diagnosis

Klonopin Overdose Treatment

In the event of an overdose, the priority is to quickly address the airway, breathing, and pulse, followed by supportive care and symptomatic treatment. If dizziness, difficulty breathing, fainting, confusion, or loss of consciousness occurs, immediately call 911 and go to the emergency room. If someone shows sudden mood or behavior changes or voices suicidal thoughts or actions, seek urgent medical care immediately.

Treatment depends on the severity of the overdose. If the individual requires mechanical ventilation or has ingested harmful substances, they need admission to a critical care setting for several days.

Emergency treatment for an overdose on Klonopin might include:

• Monitor vital signs
• Provide supportive care for symptoms
• Flumazenil (Romazicon, antidote only for children or non-habituated benzo users)
• Naloxone (suspected opioid ingestion)
• Gastric lavage and cleansing (only for recent overdose)

Next Steps After a Klonopin Overdose

Once an individual with Klonopin overdose has been stabilized and the harmful effects have been addressed, the next step is to assess the future risk of harm and the possibility of recurrence. For low-risk individuals, it may be possible to manage withdrawal at home. However, high-risk individuals are best managed with initial stabilization and maintenance therapy in specialist residential or outpatient addiction services. General guidelines apply to both groups.

For those who have successfully tapered off Klonopin, specialists continue to provide counseling regarding the overdose risks. They are advised for careful evaluation of treatment indication, suggestions for dosing adherence, and timely treatment discontinuation after four to six weeks. Additionally, individuals with intentional overdose or psychiatric disorders must see a mental health professional.

If the Klonopin Overdose Was Unintentional

The first step in the recovery is to reduce the drug dose gradually, under medical supervision, to prevent withdrawal and seizures. Information on using all prescription drugs, herbal supplements, alcohol, and recreational drugs is essential for the prescriber to explore the cause of Klonopin overdose.

Depending on the severity of symptoms, the doctor may continue the lowest effective dose of the same or replace it with another drug of the same or a different class. They may advise precautions to avoid alcohol or medicinal products causing drowsiness or sedation. Unintentional drug overdose can be treated by regular monitoring and adjusting the drug dose.

Next steps to consider after an unintentional Klonopin overdose include:

• Take medication as prescribed: Taking medication as prescribed can prevent the risk of overdose. Overdose can be avoided by educating individuals about the harmful effects of excessive drug use.
• Consult with your psychiatrist: Consult your psychiatrist regarding your dose, drug interactions, etc., to prevent accidental overdose again.
• Nonclinical alternatives: Natural and non-chemical treatments like meditation and yoga can be safely recommended to calm the brain and to prevent drug overdose.
• Alternative drugs: The azapirone class of drugs like buspirone causes less sedation and memory impairment. It has little interaction with alcohol and no overdose risk.
• Regular monitoring: Healthcare staff must monitor individuals on regular intervals to ensure that the drug is effective and safe. Educate people with relevant treatment care information.

If the Overdose on Klonopin Was Intentional

To prevent the risk of overdosing on Klonopin, individuals can gradually reduce the dose under medical supervision to prevent withdrawal and seizures. Depending on the severity of symptoms, the doctor may continue the lowest effective dose of the same drug or may replace it with another drug of the same or a different group. All individuals with intentional overdose require counseling on drug misuse and psychiatric assessment prior to discharge to address the risk of suicide or self-harm.

Next steps to consider after an intentional Klonopin overdose include:

• Seek psychotherapy: Use research-backed psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy, or psychodynamic therapy in treating symptoms that may trigger suicidal thoughts and self-harm behaviors. These interventions may help prevent subsequent overdose attempts.
• Consult your psychiatrist: For prescribing a lower dose of the same or different drug class. A gradual dose reduction with psychological treatment has a lower potential for drug overdose.
• Prescribing interventions: Effective for drug maintenance, tapering, and withdrawal effects. Regular dispensing of small quantities at a local pharmacy with clinical review.
• Monitoring: A prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) can identify potential misuse.
• Stabilization and maintenance therapy: A harm reduction strategy for people reluctant to stop the drug and at high risk of harm. It allows individuals to engage in holistic treatment before slowly reducing the dose and using another long-acting drug substitute.

Preventing Klonopin Overdose

Klonopin overdose can be prevented by a careful risk assessment for drug misuse, limiting to the lowest effective dose for the required minimum duration, and consistent follow-up. Clear and thorough communication about using the drug as prescribed is important. People should be aware of what is and is not safe drug use. Prescribers must educate and ensure people understand the risks and life-threatening consequences of misusing the drug.

A careful treatment evaluation, strict dosing adherence, and timely discontinuation of treatment after four to six weeks can significantly reduce an overdose risk. Avoiding alcohol and drugs that intensify oversedation due to drug-drug interaction, such as opioids, sleep medications, and antidepressants, can also help prevent Klonopin overdose. Considering psychosocial support is important to increase self-efficacy and positive coping responses.

In My Experience

In my experience, Klonopin is generally considered safe and rarely leads to a fatal overdose. However, it is crucial to consult with a doctor before taking it, especially if there are other health problems or taking other medications. It’s critical to be cautious when prescribing Klonopin to people with a history of substance misuse. To avoid Klonopin overdose, strictly follow the prescribed dose, never take it without a prescription, and avoid combining it with opioids, alcohol, or other sedatives.