Benzodiazepine Addiction

Treating Benzodiazepine Addiction

Benzodiazepines, or “benzos,” are a group of psychoactive drugs. Their name originates from their chemical structure, which comprises benzene and diazepine rings. Benzos such as Valium and Xanax work by intensifying the impacts of GABA-A, which causes a hypnotic sedative effect. Doctors prescribe benzodiazepines to help patients struggling with anxiety, muscle spasms, alcohol withdrawal, insomnia, and seizures, among other conditions. You can safely use them to treat these ailments over a short period.

Most benzos come in pill or tablet form, but some brands, like Valium, can be injected. Even though benzos are legal when prescribed, they are also available on the black market. On the street, benzos are often known as downers, bars, fries, or ladders.

Common Benzos /Benzodiazepines include:

• Xanax (alprazolam)
• Valium (diazepam)
• Klonopin (clonazepam)
• Halcion (triazolam)
• Diastat (diazepam)
• Doral (quazepam)
• Paxipam (halazepam)
• Dalmane (flurazepam)
• ProSom (estazolam)
• Ativan (lorazepam)
• Restoril (temazepam)
• Librium (chlordiazepoxide)
• Tranxene-SD (clorazepate)
• Serax (oxazepam)

Although benzos are effective when prescribed, they are dangerous and can be addictive. If you feel the negative effects of benzo dependence, you should seek benzo addiction treatment.

Mixing drugs is always risky, but mixing certain drugs can be dangerous and even fatal. For example, combining benzos and alcohol can lead to fatal respiratory depression. Because benzos are rarely a user’s only drug of choice, the American Academy of Family Physicians summarizes the following findings:

• 15% of heroin users consume benzos daily.
• 73% of heroin users consume benzos weekly.
• Almost 90% of methadone users consume benzos regularly.
• Roughly 41% of people suffering from alcoholism regularly misuse benzos.

Because benzos are prescribed drugs, people often overlook the warning signs of abuse. However, abuse can quickly turn into benzo addiction. Knowing the signs and symptoms of benzodiazepine addiction can help you catch it early.

Signs and symptoms of benzodiazepine addiction include:

• Blurred vision
• Drowsiness
• Weakness
• Blacking out
• Passing out
• Mood changes
• Impaired coordination
• “Doctor shopping”
• Asking others for their pills
• Engaging in risky behaviors
• Mixing with other drugs
• Inability to stop
• Withdrawal symptoms

First 24 hours: Typically, the first signs of benzo withdrawal are anxiety and insomnia. They appear in the first few hours after stopping. For those taking short-acting benzos, symptoms typically appear within six to eight hours.

Days 1-4: Rebound effect symptoms are peaking. Other symptoms that begin peaking are increased heart rate and breathing, sweating, and nausea. If people used long-acting benzos, the first signs of withdrawal would appear.

Days 10-14: Symptoms of withdrawal typically last 10-14 days before fading away, but withdrawal symptoms of long-lasting benzos begin to peak. Unfortunately, long-lasting benzo withdrawal symptoms don’t disappear for three to four weeks after stopping use.

Days 15+: People who are highly dependent on benzos may have post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS), which are random, sharp symptoms that occur months after quitting. Tapering down the use of benzodiazepines over the course of the detox.

Purposes Recovery is a private, 6-bed inpatient rehab center conveniently located in Los Angeles, California. Purposed Recovery specializes in medically assisted sub-acute detoxification & drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation, and co-occurring disorders treatment.

We work 24/7 to provide intensive, individualized programs 7 days per week. At Purposes Recovery, we understand that many patients face unique challenges in benzodiazepine addiction treatment. For this reason, each patient’s treatment plan is designed around their benzodiazepine addiction needs, including:

• Medications
• Medication-assisted therapy
• Counseling (individual, group, & family therapy, CBT, and other therapies)
• Innovative holistic treatment options