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Snorting Klonopin: Dangers, Risks and Side Effects

  • Reviewed by: Dr. Carl Williams, Ph.D., LCADC
  • Modified:
  • Reading Time: 10 minutes
  • Reviewed by: Dr. Carl Williams, Ph.D., LCADC
  • Last Update:
  • Reading Time: 10 minutes

Snorting Klonopin is a perilous misuse of the medication that can lead to serious health risks, including addiction, overdose, and lasting damage to your body.

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Klonopin is one of the four most commonly prescribed benzodiazepine drugs in the United States. The others are Valium, Ativan, and Xanax.

Most often, Klonopin is prescribed to treat anxiety and seizure problems. But generally, its soothing effects lead to misuse. Snorting Klonopin ranks among the most alarming ways people abuse the drug.

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Medical Uses & Potential for Misuse of Klonopin

What is Klonopin?

The drug clonazepam, which belongs to the benzodiazepine class, is marketed under the name Klonopin. This drug is prescribed for managing nonconvulsive status epilepticus, epilepsy, and panic disorder. Other off-label uses for the medication include tardive dyskinesia, severe mania, sleeplessness, and restless legs syndrome. It accomplishes this by suppressing abnormal electrical impulses in the central nervous system.

It also has calming effects that may help people with insomnia sleep faster or more deeply. This medication comes in two forms that doctors can prescribe: tablets and oral disintegrating tablets. But it’s now popular for people to misuse this drug in a variety of ways, including snorting.

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Risks & Effects

Can You Snort Klonopin?

No, you cannot snort this prescription drug since that is not how it is designed to be used. Most people who misuse benzos, such as Clonazepam, swallow them to get high. If you keep misusing this drug, you will build tolerance. This means the drug will not work as well.

Some eventually progress from swallowing the pills to snorting them. Snorting entails breaking the tablet into a fine powder and inhaling (insufflation) it via the nose. Something that you snort absorbs quickly, so the effects take action more rapidly and powerfully.

What Happens When Klonopin is Snorted?

When inhaled, Klonopin bypasses the stomach and enters the bloodstream faster. This quick absorption can deliver intense yet fleeting euphoric effects. However, using this approach to take the medicine can result in many adverse reactions.

How Does Snorting Klonopin Affect the Body?

When utilizing Clonazepam, oral ingestion is always preferred to insufflation in every circumstance. When used orally, the medicine is designed to be rapidly absorbed. The body will get around 90% of the drug’s first dosage almost immediately. Generally, it takes up to four hours after ingesting the drug for the blood levels of the drug to peak.

Klonopin effects on the body are pretty similar to those of other benzos. It increases the actions of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter. This drug works by lowering excess impulses in the neurological system.

In contrast, the drug’s peak in the plasma occurs faster when snorted. It peaks anytime from just fifteen to twenty minutes following injection.

Many are ready to snort Klonopin because it is many times faster than when taken orally. The effects will manifest considerably more quickly, but the potency will remain unchanged from when the medication is consumed. This is because the nasal mucosa is thin and has a lot of blood flow. This allows the drug to enter the bloodstream quickly after snorting.

But after snorting Clonazepam, there is yet another peak; part of it will enter your mouth and get absorbed there correctly. It peaks around 1.7 hours afterward.

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Increased Risk of Addiction & Dependence

What Are the Risks of Snorting Klonopin?

Long-term snorting Klonopin can cause crusted epidermis in the nasal airways, ulcerations, and chronic irritation. Many people experience severe runny noses, nosebleeds, or whistling noises in the nose. Additionally, some people suffer from continuous halitosis, sometimes known as foul breath. Sinusitis, commonly known as persistent sinus infections, is another possibility.

More severe complications related to snorting clonazepam include:

  • Perforation in the roof of the mouth.
  • Saddle nose malformation, which results in a broad, flattened nose.
  • Obstruction of the nasal passages.
  • Bone loss.
  • Perforated septum (holes in the tissues that separate the nostrils).
  • Collapsed nasal passages.
  • Reduced or complete loss of smell.

In certain situations, individuals may suffer such severe damage that restorative plastic surgery is required. If the narcotics are bought pre-powdered in a black market, things become significantly worse.

These drugs are sometimes mixed with other substances. These can include laxatives, coffee, and powdered laundry detergents. These mixtures can be even more harmful.

1. Increased Risk of Overdose

A significant medication dosage is immediately absorbed by the body when snorted. The problem with taking the substance through the nose is that it gives a stronger high.

This can also lead to serious sedative effects on your central nervous system. These effects might cause your body to shut down completely. A deadly overdose is more likely if the drug is snorted with other depressants like alcohol, opioids, or barbiturates.

The following signs might point to a possible Klonopin overdose:

  • Clammy skin.
  • Drowsiness.
  • Confusion.
  • Weak pulse.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Increased heart palpitations.
  • Seizures.
  • Dilated pupils.
  • Rapid heart rate.
  • Poor reflexes.

Call for immediate medical attention as soon as possible if you think an overdose may have happened.

2. Damage to Nasal Passages and Sinuses

The connective tissue in your nose is very fragile. Snorting drugs, including fillers in broken tablets, can harm these tissues. This damage can be serious and may even be permanent.

The injury may consist of:

  • Crusted skin.
  • Chronic nosebleeds.
  • Saddle nose malformation (the nose becomes sunken, leading to a broad and flattened shape).
  • Recurrent sinus infections.
  • Palatal defect (an opening emerging in the palate, the soft tissue at the top of the mouth).
  • Chronic runny noses.
  • Blocked or collapsed airways.
  • Sores.
  • Diminished or substantial loss of the sense of smell.
  • Septal defect (an opening developing in the septum, the tissue dividing the nostrils).

3. Increased Risk of Addiction and Dependence

Benzodiazepines like Klonopin are highly addictive compounds. Using Klonopin, whether in high doses or for a long time, can lead to serious and lasting health issues. These problems can affect both physical and mental health, including brain damage, no matter how the drug is taken. Snorting the substance can intensify its addictive properties, resulting in both physical and mental dependency.

Common specific risks include:

  • Mood swings.
  • Impaired thinking, learning, and reasoning.
  • Psychosis, aggressive, and erratic behavior.
  • Disorientation and confusion.
  • Suicidal thoughts or impulses.
  • Impulse control problems.
  • The rapid development of addiction and dependence.
  • Poor memory recall.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Mania.
  • Greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.
  • Prolonged and intense withdrawal symptoms after the medication is stopped.
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Recognizing Symptoms

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Klonopin Abuse?

Recognizing the signs of Klonopin abuse can be crucial for early intervention. Symptoms can be physical, behavioral, and psychological manifestations.

1. Physical Symptoms

Different addictive substances affect users in different ways. However, almost all types of benzodiazepines exhibit some physical signs and symptoms of which we must be aware. The physical symptoms of Klonopin abuse include:

  • Increased urination.
  • Tingling.
  • Tachycardia.
  • Sensitivity to sights and sounds.
  • Impairment in balance.
  • Poor motor coordination.
  • Dizziness.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Changes in sex drive.
  • Rashes or hives.
  • Loss of muscle coordination.
  • Muscle tension.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Increased salivation.
  • Numbness in extremities.
  • Seizures.
  • Increase in sweating.

2. Behavioral Symptoms

Signs of Klonopin use include noticeable changes in your activities, routines, and interactions. These changes may suggest that you are misusing the drug. These signs can reveal how the use of this substance affects your life and functioning. Concerning Klonopin usage, the following are some salient features of these behavioral signs:

  • Financial difficulties.
  • Lack of motivation.
  • Stealing (or borrowing) Klonopin from others.
  • Insomnia.
  • Restlessness.
  • Mounting legal problems.
  • Forging prescriptions for Klonopin.
  • pursuing multiple prescriptions for Klonopin from various doctors, also known as “doctor hopping or doctor shopping.” 
  • Increased agitation.
  • Loss of personal relationships.
  • Drowsiness.
  • Withdrawing from friends and family.
  • Decrease in the urge to engage in once-pleasurable hobbies and activities.
  • Obsessive drug-seeking behavior.

3. Psychological Symptoms

The early mental indicator of Klonopin addiction or abuse is being preoccupied with acquiring the drug. Most people with drug use disorders will disregard the other responsibilities they have just to focus on their drug use.

Other common clues are:

  • Cravings.
  • Auditory hallucinations.
  • Short-term memory loss.
  • Cognitive challenges.
  • Difficulty thinking.
  • Psychosis.
  • Personality changes.
  • Suicidal thoughts.
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Effective Treatment Strategies

How is Klonopin Addiction Treated?

The first step towards living a life free of Klonopin is to get professional treatment. There are many ways to help someone grappling with an addiction to this substance get better, including:

1. Detoxification

Detox allows you to start the process of recovery from addictions by eliminating alcohol or drugs from your body. If your Klonopin addiction is serious, you may need help from medical experts. They can assist you in removing the medication from your system. They will also help you manage the severe withdrawal symptoms that often come with detox.

2. Therapy and Counseling

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and other types of therapy can help you with Klonopin use. They can also help you build healthier ways to cope with problems.

3. Medication-Assisted Treatment

MAT uses medications, like benzo antagonists, to reduce cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms during detox. These drugs can also be prescribed during the therapy and counseling stage to treat long-term addiction to clonazepam.

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Effective Prevention Strategies

How Can Klonopin Abuse Be Prevented?

While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for preventing the misuse of drugs, there are measures anyone can take. These are some steps to avoid Klonopin abuse.

1. Educating about the Dangers of Klonopin Abuse

When you learn about the dangers of misusing Klonopin, like snorting it, you can make better health choices.

2. Proper Disposal of Unused Medication

Ensure you properly dispose of any unused or expired Klonopin to reduce the possibility of abuse. Drug take-back programs are offered by many pharmacies and community groups. Please reach out to those in your area to see if they can help.

3. Seeking Help for Mental Health Issues

Substance misuse and mental disorders frequently coexist. If you are struggling with a mental health issue, seek help from a qualified counselor or therapist.

This includes conditions like depression, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, or post-traumatic stress disorder. A specialist can teach you helpful ways to cope. This will help you manage your symptoms without misusing Klonopin.

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At the Rolling Hills Recovery Center (RHRC), we realize that Klonopin dependency is a psychological problem. Our goal is to assist people in overcoming their addiction to Klonopin and achieving lasting recovery. We offer a holistic approach to addiction recovery by fusing evidence-based therapy with a caring and inclusive environment.

You must take action now if you or a loved one has become dependent on Klonopin. Get help now!

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Written By:

Geoffrey Andaria

Geoffrey Andaria mental health writer at rolling hills recovery center
Rolling Hills Recovery Center

Mental Health Writer

About Author:

Geoffrey Andaria is an experienced mental health content writer and editor. With a B.A. in English and Journalism, Geoffrey is highly educated in freelance articles and research. Having taken courses on social work, Geoffrey is adamant about providing valuable and educational information to individuals affected by mental health and the disease of addiction.

Medically Reviewed By:

Dr. Carl Williams Ph.D., LCADC

Carl Williams, medical content reviewer at rolling hills recovery center
Rolling Hills Recovery Center

Expert Contributor

About Reviewer:

Dr. Williams presently serves on the board of Directors for two non-profit service organizations. He holds a Master’s degree in Human Services from Lincoln University, Philadelphia, Pa, and a Ph.D. with a concentration in Clinical Psychology from Union Institute and University. In Cincinnati, Ohio. He is licensed to practice addictions counseling in both New Jersey and Connecticut and has a pending application as a practicing Psychologist in New Jersey.

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