Mixing Adderall And Klonopin: Dangers And Side Effects

Many people think mixing drugs such as Adderall and Klonopin is safe, but this combination can be deadly. Adderall is a stimulant that speeds up your heart and mind, while Klonopin is a depressant that slows down your body and brain. These two types of drugs work in completely opposite ways.

Some people mistakenly believe they can balance out the effects by taking both medications together. They might take Klonopin to calm down from feeling too wired on Adderall, or use Adderall to fight off drowsiness from Klonopin. This dangerous thinking has led to serious medical emergencies and even death. Your body can’t simply “cancel out” these powerful medications, and trying to do so puts your life at risk.

What Does Adderall Do To The Brain?

Adderall is an amphetamine and is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance. This means it has a high risk for abuse and can cause both mental and physical addiction. When doctors prescribe it in small, controlled doses, it helps people with ADHD focus better and control their behavior.

However, Adderall works by flooding the brain with chemicals called dopamine and norepinephrine. When someone takes more than prescribed or uses it without a prescription, these chemicals create intense feelings of happiness and energy. This rush feels so good that people often want to experience it again and again, which is how addiction to Adderall begins.

Klonopin Effects On The Brain

Klonopin is the brand named for clonazepam, a benzodiazepine classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance. This means it has a potential for abuse, but not as high as Schedule II substance like Adderall.

Depressants like Klonopin are sedatives that can help alleviate anxiety and also work as a muscle relaxer. The effects of Klonopin are the opposite of Adderall. Klonopin raises levels of GABA neurotransmitters in the brain, which are inhibitory neurons, to slow the body and brain.

Dangerous Interactions Of Klonopin And Adderall

Combining Klonopin and Adderall will result in one drug masking the effects of the other. This is problematic if people want to feel stronger effects of one drug or the other, and decide to take more. Accidental overdoses occur with polysubstance abuse (abusing more than one drug at a time).

Stimulants speed up the heart, but benzos slow the heart down. The brain sends the heart mixed messages, and this can cause irregular heartbeat, dysrhythmias, tachycardia, or even heart failure. After abusing both drugs for a time, it can also be dangerous to simply stop taking these drugs. Stopping cold turkey can result in severe withdrawal symptoms and can cause permanent damage.

Adderall Misuse

When people are abusing Adderall, they will likely start behaving in a way that is out of character. They also may ask to borrow money or sell personal belongings for money. They may withdraw from others, suddenly have a new friend group, and exhibit other drug seeking behaviors. Below are some of the signs of Adderall abuse.

Signs of Adderall abuse include:

• excessive energy
• dilated pupils
• no appetite
• dry mouth
• rapid heartbeat
• breathing rate increase

Stopping Adderall can be extremely difficult for someone who has become dependent on the drug, causing uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms like irritability, sleep problems, dizziness, mood swings, confusion, blurry vision, depression, headaches, and paranoia. When people experience these harsh withdrawal effects, they often look for ways to feel better and may turn to benzodiazepines like Klonopin, thinking it will help ease their symptoms.

Klonopin Misuse

Klonopin abuse has a different set of observable, physical symptoms of abuse to watch out for.

These symptoms include:

• trembling
• depression
• headaches
• confusion
• sleepiness
• uncoordinated movement
• dizziness
• problems with vision

Withdrawal from benzodiazepines depend on how long someone has been taking the medication and typically begin one to two days after the last dose. These symptoms can range from mild discomfort like sweating, anxiety, muscle aches, and trouble sleeping to severe and life-threatening complications including seizures, hallucinations, delirium, and suicidal thoughts.

Other common withdrawal effects include irritability, loss of appetite, restlessness, headaches, tremors, rapid breathing, extreme sensitivity to light, blurred vision, and feeling unsteady or experiencing strange body sensations.

Who Is Most At Risk Of Mixing Adderall And Klonopin?

Certain groups of people are more likely to find themselves mixing Adderall and Klonopin, often without fully understanding the dangers involved. College students are among the most at-risk, as Adderall is misused as a study aid and Klonopin or other benzodiazepines are sometimes taken afterward to come down from the stimulant’s effects and get to sleep. People with prescriptions for both medications are also vulnerable, as the combination may be prescribed by different doctors who may not be aware of each other’s treatment plans.

Those with untreated anxiety or ADHD face a particular risk, as they may self-medicate with whichever substance seems to address their symptoms in the moment. Someone feeling overstimulated may reach for Klonopin, while someone feeling sluggish or unfocused may take extra Adderall, creating a dangerous back-and-forth cycle.

Withdrawal Symptoms From Mixing Adderall And Klonopin

Polysubstance abuse symptoms of withdrawal from combining Adderall and Klonopin can result in any or all of the symptoms listed above. Additionally, the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms is directly related to the amount of drugs used on a daily basis.

When people who are facing addiction to large amounts of Klonopin and Adderall attempt to get sober, it can lead to extremely high blood pressure and painful discomfort. For these reasons, it’s advised to seek medically monitored detox services followed by continued treatment at a rehab center.

Finding substance abuse treatment may feel overwhelming once you start looking at choices, but help is available. Talk to a primary care provider or reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for more information about addiction recovery.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff