Do Xanax and Klonopin show up the same in a drug test? 

Do Xanax and Klonopin show up the same in a drug test?

Yes, Xanax (Alprazolam) and Klonopin (Clonazepam) do show up the same in a drug test because they are chemically similar and belong to the same class of drugs. Both Xanax and Klonopin are Benzodiazepines and they are supposed to be detected the same in any drug test. 

Standard urine drug Immunoassays do not identify the exact drug present in your body, but the class of drugs it belongs to. If two medications belong to the same class of medications and work in the exact same way, they will definitely be recognized as the same meds. 

However, Xanax and Klonopin may not show up even on a standard 12-panel drug test, as compared to other Benzodiazepines which are more commonly detected (1). Even if they do, they will show up in the same category because they belong to the same class. 

Some people may use Xanax and Klonopin interchangeably, as these medications cause similar therapeutic benefits. However, it is important to note that Benzodiazepines are prescription medications with a potential for addiction and abuse. These medications should be taken carefully.

How long does Xanax stay in your system? 

Xanax has a half-life of about 6-27 hours, depending on the person taking the medication, and the strength and frequency of dose administration. 

Xanax is considered a Benzodiazepine with a short duration of action. The effects of the drug may halt, but it does remain in your body in detectable amounts. On average, Xanax can stay in your body for about 3-5 days. 

How long does Klonopin stay in your system? 

Klonopin has a very long half-life of about 20-50 hours, after which the concentration of the drug reduces to half. The remaining concentrations keep reducing to their half after every 20-50 hours. 

The entire process can take several days. However, its concentration may become low enough to not be detected within 3-4 days. 

How to avoid Xanax and Klonopin showing up on a drug test? 

There is no easy way to avoid Xanax and Klonopin showing up on a drug test. However, you don’t need to worry about that if you’re taking prescription medications and not misusing them in any way. 

You can simply talk to your healthcare provider prior to the test and submit your prescription to the testing authority to inform them about your prescription medications. 

Benzodiazepines are included in a standard 12-panel drug urine analysis and they will most likely show up. But again, as long as you’re sticking to your doctor’s recommendations, you don’t need to worry about it. 

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

References

1.-

Hadland SE, Levy S. Objective Testing: Urine and Other Drug Tests. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2016 Jul;25(3):549-65. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2016.02.005. Epub 2016 Mar 30. PMID: 27338974; PMCID: PMC4920965. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4920965/#R8