Benzo Addiction Treatment

Benzodiazepine is a category of depressants that produce a feeling of sedation or calm. Prescribed benzos are a common treatment for anxiety, seizures, and muscle spasms. That hypnotic feeling also makes them a popular street drug called benzos or downers.

Benzodiazepine impacts the central nervous system. They enhance the effects of the critical neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain.

GABA serves as the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. It reduces the excitability of neurons, helping to calm brain activity. It is this effect that makes benzo use so intoxicating and benzo addiction a problem.

Benzos are commonly prescribed to treat serious health problems such as anxiety disorders, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal, and muscle spasms. They are effective in treating conditions like these in the short term, but benzos are prescription drugs with a high risk of substance abuse, dependence, and addiction.

All benzos carry a risk of dependence, whether they are prescription drugs or bought on the street. But they are not all equally addictive. Extended use of any benzo can lead to dependence and, eventually, substance use disorders.

Benzos that are the most addictive include:

• Alprazolam or Xanax
• Clonazepam or Klonopin
• Diazepam or Valium
• Lorazepam or Ativan

The risk of substance use disorders can vary from person to person and increase the longer you take prescribed benzodiazepines. Higher doses also increase the risk, as do other mental health conditions like panic attacks.

At Reprieve Recovery, we tailor a benzo addiction treatment plan to meet the individual needs of each person. Our medical professionals take into account not only your benzodiazepine dependence but also any co-occurring mental health disorders that might affect your recovery journey.

One significant risk of long-term benzo use is a buildup of tolerance. Over time, it is necessary to take more of the drug to produce the same effect. It also means that your body can tolerate more of the drug without overdosing. That makes it harder to overcome addiction.

If you stop taking the drug and then start again at the same dose, you can easily overdose. When you stop, the tolerance of benzos reduces, so it will take less for you to overdose. Many fail to make that adjustment mentally, so they stick with the dose they took last, leading to an overdose.

Another risk that comes with benzo use is combining it with other substances. As your tolerance builds, you may experiment with other drugs looking to produce the feeling you expect to get from the benzos, but don’t anymore. Mixing benzos with alcohol or opioids increases the risk of overdose.

Studies indicate that up to 80% of people who take this drug for even just a few weeks will experience withdrawal. This is true whether you misuse benzodiazepines or take them for the medical management of an illness like seizure disorders.

Withdrawal occurs in three phases: early, acute, and protracted. Different symptoms can occur in each stage.

Some common withdrawal symptoms include:

• Muscle spasms
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Blurred vision
• Seizures
• Hallucinations
• Memory loss
• Seizures
• Weight loss
• Mood swings, including depression and anxiety
• Twitching

Withdrawal is also when drug cravings are intense. This is why our addiction treatment programs include detox and medical supervision. Our medication professionals use medication assisted treatment techniques to ease the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms.