What Drugs Are Benzodiazepines?
Several people suffer from anxiety daily, and in places like Los Angeles, the demand for effective treatment, including at a drug detox facility, is significant. When your stress reaches a certain level, your doctor may prescribe specific medication to help you better manage and combat the impact of anxiety on your life. These medications often fall into the benzodiazepine category, a common treatment offered and managed at drug detox facilities Los Angeles. There are several different types of benzos that you may have heard about or that you may have taken as a way to combat your anxiety, and understanding their use and potential dependency issues is a key focus at a Los Angeles drug detox facility. Here are some examples:
- Valium
- Xanax
- Klonipin
- Ativan
- Nitrazepam
- Oxazepam
Realistically, the list of benzodiazepines and their variations could go on and on. If you have questions about whether or not a substance you or a loved one is taking is classified as a benzo, feel free to contact our addiction treatment team to provide you with the sound advice and guidance you need.
Signs of Benzodiazepine Addiction
There are several signs that a person may display if they are suffering from benzodiazepine addiction. Although this type of addiction is something that impacts every person differently, here are some of the more common signs of benzo addiction:
- Inability to maintain work or school responsibilities
- Problems with personal relationships
- Frequently changing doctors to keep your addiction
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as craving or shaking if you stop taking benzos for some time
Remember, if you have concerns that you or your loved one may be experiencing benzo addiction, you can always reach out and speak to an intake counselor at a trusted addiction treatment facility for assistance.
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptoms
It’s important to understand that drug and alcohol withdrawal could be fatal. The symptoms associated with this phase of your treatment are unpredictable, which is why you should never stop taking the drug or trying to experience withdrawal unless you have the guidance of your treatment team. Here are some examples of withdrawal symptoms that you could experience during the time that you’re in detox at a drug detox facility Beverly Hills:
- Issues with sleep
- Problems concentrating
- Heart palpitations
- Headaches
- Hand tremors
- Cravings
- Panic attacks
Keep in mind that any one of these symptoms can be challenging to manage. However, when you combine them, you may feel as though you’re drowning. Therefore, it’s always essential that you never attempt to address these symptoms on your own, and you look to a trusted addiction treatment facility that will care for you in the way you need during this period.
Timeline for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
The exact timeline for benzo withdrawal can be challenging to predict. However, on average, a benzo withdrawal timeline can last anywhere between a few days and up to two weeks. When you initially reach out to an addiction treatment facility, you must go through the extent of your addiction with them to provide you with the immediate care you may need.
On average, you will begin to experience withdrawal symptoms anywhere between six and eight hours from when you last consumed this substance. This timeframe may be adjusted depending on whether or not you’re addicted to short-acting or long-acting benzos. However, the first one to four days of your time in withdrawal and detox will often be the most difficult to manage. During this period, you will experience the height of your withdrawal symptoms, making it all but impossible for you to properly care for yourself. In most cases, however, you will have a better handle on what you’re thinking and feeling by the time you get to the week mark of your time in detox. However, if you’re struggling with an addiction to longer-acting benzo, there is a strong possibility that you will need to stay in detox for a more extended period. In cases like this, you may need to spend approximately two weeks in detox treatment.
It’s important to remember that depending on the dose of benzodiazepines you were addicted to, as well as the length of time you struggled with benzodiazepine abuse, there is a possibility that you may experience a condition known as post-acute withdrawal symptoms, also commonly known as PAWS. Post-acute withdrawal symptoms typically occur after you have been through the withdrawal and detox phase of your recovery journey. However, you suddenly begin to experience withdrawal symptoms that you once did during your initial days of sobriety. These withdrawal symptoms can make you feel like you’re going through withdrawal and detox again. However, symptoms associated with PAWS will not feel as severe as they did during your initial withdrawal; they can still make you question your sobriety and your recovery. When you’re in treatment, you will learn more about PAWS and how to cope with what you’re experiencing.
Find more details on the benzo withdrawal timeline here:
https://musetreatment.com/blog/benzodiazepine-withdrawal-timeline/
Medications Used in Benzo Detox
Many people make the unfortunate decision to try to detox at home. This process is something else that could be potentially fatal. When you stop taking the drug you’re addicted to, your body starts to go into somewhat of a tailspin. Therefore, you must be surrounded by a recovery team that can provide you with the immediate care you need throughout withdrawal. This is one of the leading reasons why a medically supervised withdrawal program can help you. During a medically supervised withdrawal program, your treatment team will be able to provide you with certain medications that can make the overall benzodiazepine withdrawal process easier to manage and maintain. There are certain times when a gradual dose reduction can be more helpful. However, certain medications can help make the benzo detox process less stressful or traumatic. For example, some medications can help you better manage your cravings while still addressing the anxiety you may be feeling during this time. Some people don’t want to take medication when they are in detox because they are concerned about the addictive qualities of this type of medication. However, you can take comfort in the fact that during the time you are in the controlled setting that a treatment facility provides and under the care of trained medical professionals, you will have all the care you need to ensure that that does not happen.
Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment at Muse
After benzo detox, you will be in a better place both physically and psychologically to focus on the steps you need to take to overcome your substance abuse. You have made the commitment required to quit benzos, and now you can dig into the events that may have happened in your life that contributed to your drug and alcohol abuse. One of the most important decisions you will need to make regarding how you treat benzodiazepine addiction is whether you’re going to commit to inpatient rehab or outpatient rehab. To ensure you select the right addiction treatment plan, a good rule of thumb is to speak to your treatment team about the unique difference between an inpatient benzodiazepine abuse treatment program and an outpatient rehab.
An inpatient rehab program will remind you of drug detox in many ways. First and foremost, you will be able to live on the campus of your treatment facility of choice. This can help you exclusively focus on recovery from your benzodiazepine abuse without adverse distractions. Inpatient rehab will provide you with a safe environment when a person stops taking benzos. Although you just went through drug detox, you may still feel uncertain regarding your next steps. Inpatient treatment allows you to take full advantage of learning more about prescription opioids and benzos and the negative impact these drugs can have on your life. Whether you are suffering from an addiction to short-acting benzo drugs or longer-acting benzos, you can comfort that your addiction team will be there for you every step of the way during inpatient care.
Do you work or go to school? Perhaps you feel overwhelmed by the premise of a comprehensive inpatient drug rehab? If so, the better option for you to address your benzodiazepine abuse may be to commit to an intensive outpatient or a general outpatient rehab program. Outpatient rehab programs offer more flexibility in comparison to inpatient drug rehab. Therefore, more people prefer to commit to this type of benzodiazepine drug rehab program. You will work closely with your addiction treatment team to develop a recovery program that suits your recovery needs and your work or school schedule.
Would you like more information about the detox and recovery programs available at Muse Treatment Center? Our recovery team is ready to speak with you at (800) 426-1818 today.
