Benzodiazepine Detox Treatment

Benzodiazepine is a drug often prescribed for seizures, anxiety disorders, and insomnia. They are usually recommended for short-term use because they are highly addictive and can cause dependence with long-term use. Even taking benzodiazepine at the recommended levels can cause dependency and result in withdrawal when you decide to stop taking the medication.

Legacy Healing Center offers drug and alcohol rehab in Florida and New Jersey that provides hope to those looking to pursue benzodiazepine detox.

What are Benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepine is a tranquilizer drug that depresses the nervous system and calms a person by relieving the psychological and physical effects of anxiety. Tranquilizers are often referred to as sedatives or downers. These drugs are available to users by prescription.

However, benzodiazepine is quite addictive, and users often abuse it. These drugs are often easy to abuse because they are so readily available. In fact, benzodiazepines are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. Xanax and valium are some of the most popular benzodiazepines.

What are Benzodiazepines Used For?

Just as the name implies, tranquilizers are used to make a person feel tranquil. These drugs are prescribed to treat disorders and conditions such as anxiety, seizures and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Some doctors administer benzodiazepine as an anesthetic before surgery. The drug is also used as a muscle relaxer.

Benzo Detox: Towards a Better Life?

Detox is necessary if you have developed a dependence on benzodiazepine. When withdrawal symptoms start, it’s easy to decide to take more benzos to avoid those unpleasant feelings. Relapse is common when attempting to detox on your own.

Medically-assisted benzodiazepine withdrawal treatment allows you to be in a safe place with plenty of support for those first few days when your body is struggling to reach a new normal. Detox programs, such as opioid detox treatment provide resources to make this time less painful. Medical detox happens when the benzos are eliminated from your body under the supervision of medical staff. It may include medications to help you manage the symptoms. Once you have completed the initial part of detoxing, you can begin benzodiazepine addiction treatment.

What is Benzodiazepine Withdrawal?

Withdrawal from benzodiazepine can happen when you stop taking the drug if your system has developed a dependency. Withdrawal symptoms can start in as little as 24 hours or up to two weeks before you notice the signs. You may experience mild symptoms for a day or two before the more severe symptoms begin.

Withdrawal occurs when the benzodiazepine begins to leave the system. The body has come to depend on benzodiazepine and when it’s no longer present, both physiological and psychological symptoms may result.

One of the challenges with benzodiazepine is recognizing the difference in the return of symptoms from the original health condition from withdrawal symptoms. Since benzos are often prescribed for anxiety and insomnia, you may experience an increase in insomnia or anxiety when you stop taking the medication. This is known as a rebound effect. Withdrawal occurs when the body attempts to regulate itself without the help of benzodiazepines.

The process of detoxing from benzodiazepine can vary, depending on several factors. The dosage and length of time you’ve been on benzos are the most important factors.

You must also consider whether the benzodiazepine you were taking were short-term or long-term drugs. Drugs that are longer-acting will stay in your system for a longer time. Your genetics and body composition will also determine how long detox takes.

How Long Does Benzodiazepine Detox Take?

Acute withdrawal starts right away, usually within a couple of days of stopping the benzos. This phase can last for a few days before you start to notice a significant improvement. Long-term withdrawal can last for several weeks with symptoms that may show up for months after you stop taking the medication.

Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

Withdrawal from benzodiazepine can happen when you stop taking the drug if your system has developed a dependency. Withdrawal symptoms can start in as little as 24 hours or up to two weeks before you notice the signs. You may experience mild symptoms for a day or two before the more severe symptoms begin.

Withdrawal from benzodiazepine often happens in multiple patterns. For the first few days, you may experience insomnia and anxiety. This can last for up to four days before more serious withdrawal symptoms begin. During this timeframe, you may experience a wide range of symptoms, including:

In terms of long-term effects, some patients experience withdrawal symptoms for weeks after they’ve quit taking the drug. When a person rapidly discontinues the drug after abusing it, there is an increased likelihood of experiencing benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms. In the worst and most rare cases, a patient will experience catatonia, coma and even death.In many cases, drug abusers may not want to quit taking benzodiazepine simply because abusers enjoy the calming effect they experience from the drug.

However, when dependent on the drug, the patient may feel the need to increase the dosage in order to experience the calming effects. An increased dose of the drug can lead to any of the following symptoms: drowsiness, confusion, blurred vision, feeling weak, dizziness, slurred speech and a lack of coordination or “drunk” appearance. In the worst cases, an increased dosage can lead to trouble breathing and even coma, though these symptoms are rare.

Get The Help You Need With Benzodiazepine Detox

If you’ve been taking benzos and tried to stop on your own, you can benefit from professional help with drug rehab in Florida. Legacy Healing Center offers safe drug detox to help you start down the road to recovery through a benzodiazepine detox center. Contact us to find out more about how we can assist you at 888.534.2295.