When Can I Drink Alcohol After Taking Klonopin?

Answer

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There is a drug interaction between Klonopin (clonazepam) and alcohol, and they should not be used together. Both alcohol and Klonopin are associated with CNS (central nervous system) depression. The combined use of alcohol and Klonopin can lead to additive CNS depression, which can be extremely dangerous. Possible effects include:

• Decreased mental alertness
• Respiratory depression
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Profound sedation
• Coma

Although the noticeable effects of Klonopin last between 6 and 12 hours after taking a dose, it takes much longer than that for our body to metabolize it, so when we talk about avoiding having both in our system at the same time, you have to wait at least a few days after your last dose. I describe this further in the sections below.

How Long Klonopin Lasts

Klonopin (clonazepam) is classified as a benzodiazepine and has a fairly quick onset of action of about 20 to 60 minutes. The duration of action of Klonopin is around 6 to 8 hours in children and up to 12 hours in adults. 

While the effects of Klonopin generally last 6 to 12 hours, the half-life of the drug (i.e. time it takes for 50% of the drug to be metabolized) is significantly longer, around 30 to 40 hours.

Some sources put the half-life at over 50 hours. Generally, it is thought that it takes at least 5 half-lives for a drug to be considered completely metabolized. Therefore, it will take at least four to five days for Klonopin to be completely metabolized and eliminated from the body.

Klonopin, on its own and at usual doses, is very unlikely to cause significant respiratory depression. However, taking additional medications that are CNS depressants (like alcohol) greatly increases the risk of dangerous and even fatal respiratory depression. That is why it is so important to use extreme caution (or avoid altogether) combinations of CNS depressants like alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines.

How Long To Wait After Your Last Klonopin Dose To Drink Alcohol

In order to avoid consuming alcohol with Klonopin completely, it would be necessary to abstain from drinking for at least four to five days based on the half-life of Klonopin. However, there isn't much data available to appropriately determine how long the respiratory depressive effects of Klonopin last after dosing.

The effects on respiration don't appear to last for the duration of time the drug is detectable in the body, but this isn't conclusive. If you are looking to consume alcohol while on Klonopin therapy, it would be prudent to speak with your doctor for advice in your particular situation.

How Long To Wait After Drinking Alcohol To Take Klonopin

If you are looking to know a time frame for when it is safe to take Klonopin after drinking alcohol, it generally isn't a good idea to use the commonly held rule of thumb that it takes around 1 hour, an average, to metabolize one alcoholic drink.

A standard 'drink' of alcohol is defined by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as:

• 12 ounces of regular beer (~5% alcohol)
• 5 ounces of wine (~12% alcohol)
• 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (~40% alcohol)

It isn't a good idea to use the 'one hour to metabolize one drink' rule when trying to determine when it is safe to take interacting medication because it is simply a very rough estimate and many factors (e.g. gender, health status, concomitant medications) play a role in how any one individual will process alcohol.

Additionally, the effects of alcohol on the body are not gone after it has been metabolized by our body. There are a number of byproducts produced, which have a range of effects, especially on sleep (e.g. it can suppress REM sleep) and breathing.

Nevertheless, in your situation, having been 24 hours after your last drink, it probably is safe to continue taking your Klonopin as prescribed.

Final Words

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