Don asked
I take maybe one-half of a 0.5 Klonopin a day for anxiety, How dangerous is it for me to have a beer or 2 at a BBQ?
Answer
There is certainly a precaution when taking Klonopin (Clonazepam) along with alcohol, but the severity of the interaction depends on many factors such as the dose of Klonopin, how soon alcohol and Klonopin are taken together etc...
The interaction is as follows: The combined use of alcohol containing products and benzodiazepines (such as Klonopin) can lead to CNS depression and respiratory depression. The chance of excessive sedation is high, and large enough doses of Klonopin could put you at serious danger of breathing issues.
For many people, the dose you are taking isn't all that high and may not cause any significant mental fatigue or drowsiness, even when combined with alcohol. The timing of ingesting the two are also important. Klonopin typically has a duration of action of around 6-8 hours in humans. If the alcohol and dose of the medication are separated by long enough, you probably wouldn't even notice any ill effects.
I would certainly recommend separating the two as much as possible.
Drugs like Klonopin, which belongs to a class known as benzodiazepines, get a lot of coverage and attention to due their possible serious adverse reactions. The fact of the matter is that if they are taken responsibility, at a prescribed dose, they are safe and effective medications that help millions of people with a range of indications. They just need to be used appropriately.
