Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment
Benzodiazepines are depressants that produce sedation and hypnosis, reducing muscle spasms, seizures, and anxiety.
They are available in prescription pills, injectables, and syrup. They are only legally available through prescription.
But if you maintain your drug supply by getting prescriptions from several doctors, forging prescriptions, or buying them illicitly, you might have a substance use disorder with benzodiazepines.
Tolerance can develop at variable rates and to different degrees.
Alprazolam and clonazepam are the two most frequently encountered benzodiazepines on the illicit market. The most common street names are Tranks, Downers, Nerve Pills, and Benzos. Unfortunately, if you are reading this, you or your loved one probably already know that.
What are Benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepine Side Effects
Active Ingredients and Commercial Brands of Benzodiazepines
The most common benzodiazepines are the prescription drugs Valium®, Xanax®, Halcion®, Ativan®, and Klonopin®.
Shorter-acting benzodiazepines used to manage insomnia include estazolam (ProSom®), flurazepam (Dalmane®), temazepam (Restoril®), and triazolam (Halcion®). Midazolam (Versed®), a short-acting benzodiazepine, is used for sedation, anxiety, and amnesia in critical care settings and before anesthesia. It is available in the United States as an injectable preparation and a syrup, mainly for younger patients.
Benzodiazepines with a longer duration of action are prescribed to treat insomnia in patients with daytime anxiety. These include alprazolam (Xanax®), chlordiazepoxide (Librium®), clorazepate (Tranxene®), diazepam (Valium®), halazepam (Paxipam®), lorzepam (Ativan®), oxazepam (Serax®), prazepam (Centrax®), and quazepam (Doral®). Clonazepam (Klonopin®), diazepam, and clorazepate are effective as anticonvulsants too.
Why are benzodiazepines addictive?
Why are benzodiazepines addictive? Abuse of benzodiazepines is exceptionally high among cocaine and heroin consumers. Young adults addicted to benzos swallow or snort the pills after crushing them to get high. Additionally, opioid users often mix benzodiazepines to prolong the euphoric sensation. Sometimes, alcohol withdrawal symptoms are treated with benzodiazepines too.
It is essential to know that benzodiazepines are highly addictive and controlled under Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act of The United States.
What are benzodiazepine side effects?
Benzodiazepines may cause aggressiveness, amnesia, irritability, and vivid nightmares.
Benzodiazepines slow down the central nervous system, provoking sleepiness and a chilled mood.
Overdose effects include confusion, acute drowsiness, impaired coordination, decreased reflexes, coma, and respiratory slowdown. Overdose effects of combined abuse of benzodiazepines and opioids include Profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and even death. The main signs are shallow respiration, clammy skin, dilated pupils, and weak and rapid pulse.
Drugs that cause similar effects include Alcohol, barbiturates, sleeping pills, and GHB.
Benzodiazepines have a relaxing, calming effect and are used to treat these conditions:
- acute anxiety, agitation, or panic attacks
- overwhelming sleeping problems when other treatments fail
- to relax and sedate you during surgeries
- to reduce the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal if you are fighting alcoholism
- muscle spasms and epileptic fit when an immediate effect is needed.
For anxiety and insomnia, it’s best to use benzodiazepines only for a short time. Ongoing use for longer than 15-30 days may require looking into a disorder, especially without a doctor’s supervision.
- Your body gets used to benzodiazepines quickly and after 15-3o days, and it’s not likely that they will have the same effect afterward.
- This does not happen if you take benzodiazepines now and again or for less than one month.
- If you take a benzodiazepine daily for longer than 2–4 weeks, you may feel dependent on it. You may get tragic withdrawal effects if you stop cold turkey, and the feelings of anxiety can worsen.
In that case, we at Refresh Recovery mental health outpatient San Diego are here to meet you where you are. Are you suffering from multiple addictions such as fentanyl or Alcohol or mental health? Even though medical marijuana has positive medical uses, some can suffer from addiction effects on their mental health. Suppose you or a loved one suffers from benzo addiction at Refresh Recovery in San Diego. In that case, we can answer any questions regarding detoxification, steps towards recovery, and support at whatever phase you get help. We provide dual-diagnosis outpatient treatment and offer co-occurring therapy for better diagnostic outcomes.
Treating Benzo Addiction
Rehabilitation for Benzodiazepines at Refresh Recovery
Suppose you have been taking benzodiazepines and believe you may need help. In that case, our clinicians at Refresh Recovery will attend to a specific plan that follows the proper detoxification and long-term program approach. This aims to reduce the risk of withdrawal and fully embrace therapy. Refresh Recovery drug and alcohol treatment can help if you use multiple drugs such as benzodiazepines with alcohol, heroin, or other drugs like meth, antihistamines, pain relief medicines, or herbal remedies. Remember that the risk of falls increases when people take Benzos, especially if their muscles are weak or older than 65.
If you or your loved one have become addicted to any benzodiazepines, Refresh Recovery is here to help. Our committed staff is ready to guide you through San Diego, California’s detox and rehab process. More on our privacy policy here.
Benzodiazepine Rehab in San Diego at Refresh Recovery
At Refresh Recovery benzodiazepine rehab, attending a plan specific to your benzodiazepine use disorder is of our immediate attention. Our experienced rehab team will provide a unique program that embraces mental health components and tools for successful reintegration and an integrative approach to sustained recovery.