Benzodiazepines are a class of sedatives that are prescribed for the short-term treatment of anxiety disorder or insomnia. Although these drugs are very effective in calming the central nervous system, they are highly addictive. If you are concerned about your use of these drugs, you may wonder how do you detox from benzodiazepines safely. The following provides helpful information to guide you through the detox process.
What are Benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines (also called benzos) are among the most widely filled prescription drugs in the U.S. This class of drugs includes the well-known brands Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, and Valium. While each version has unique uses, in general they provide sedating effects in the treatment of anxiety disorder or insomnia.
Benzos work by increasing GABA production, which in turn slows down activity in the central nervous system. Some benzos are short acting and others are long acting, but both provide swift relief via a deeply relaxing and calming effect.
Benzos are prescribed for short-term use only, and are tightly controlled due to the high potential for abuse and addiction. Studies show that prolonged use of these drugs leads quickly to dependency, and both physiological and psychological addiction are common.
Benzodiazepine Abuse and Addiction
Benzo addiction can sneak up on a person. The short-acting versions of these drugs see effects lasting only about two hours. Because of this, an individual may be tempted to consume higher daily doses than what is prescribed. Over time, the result is often dependency or addiction.
Some individuals engage in benzo abuse, or taking the drug in a non-medicinal manner to achieve a desired effect. Benzo abuse can also result in addiction, but there are safety risks, too. Some may combine benzos with alcohol or opioids to enhance the effects of both substances.
Warning signs of benzo abuse or addiction may include:
- Increased tolerance, which leads to taking higher doses more frequently
- Acquiring the drug through illicit means, such as doctor shopping or buying the pills on the street or online
- Believing you cannot get through the day without the benzos
- Obsess about obtaining the benzos and looking forward to taking the drug
- Give up hobbies or interests in favor of benzo abuse
- Cannot cut back or quit the benzos even if you want to
- Keep taking the drug, despite the adverse effects they cause in your life
- Use benzos in high risk situations, such as driving under the influence
- Have withdrawal symptoms when benzo effects wear off
There are several risks associated with taking benzos. These include:
- Addiction. Extended use of benzos may result in addiction to the substance. The brain adjusts to the daily presence of benzos in the system, and the reward system prompts continued use.
- Overdose. Benzo abuse can lead to overdose, especially when used with another depressant. Between 1999-2017 there was a significant rise in the number of overdose deaths involving benzos.
- Injuries. Because of the sedating effects, benzo use can cause dizziness and loss of coordination. These effects can lead to accidental falls and injury.
Benzodiazepine Detox Program
In understanding how do you detox from benzodiazepines, it is important to know the withdrawal risks. It is always recommended that the person undergo a medically supervised benzo detox and withdrawal.
To minimize the potential risks of benzo detox and better manage withdrawal, a trained detox team will begin a taper schedule. A doctor creates a dosing schedule that provides lower and lower doses of the benzo until the person is weaned off the drug.
During detox, the team provides the necessary medical support to minimize discomfort, as well as psychological support. With this close monitoring of symptoms and ongoing detox support, the individual is able to safely complete the detox process.
Benzodiazepine Detox Timeline
When you begin the detox, your body will react to the reduced benzo dosing and attempt to adjust. During this process, it is common to experience withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. In fact, 40% of those who had taken benzos for longer than six months experience moderate to severe symptoms.
So, how do you detox from benzodiazepines? The benzo detox timeline will unfold over days and weeks in a fairly predictable manner. However, the onset of symptoms differs depending on whether the person was taking short-acting or long-acting benzos. For someone taking long-acting benzos, withdrawal symptoms may not emerge for a couple of weeks.
The individual will experience three stages of withdrawal:
- Early withdrawal symptoms. In the first couple of days of detox, symptoms include anxiety, trouble sleeping, irritability, and restlessness.
- Acute withdrawal symptoms. The most intense symptoms occur during this stage, which can last for a week, if not longer. The symptoms may include muscle aches, insomnia, mood swings, tremors, anxiety, panic attacks, and increased heart rate.
- Sub-acute symptoms. The final stage of detox can last for weeks or months, but features subsiding symptoms. These include mood swings, irritability, cognitive difficulties, and occasional anxiety.
Help for Benzodiazepine Addiction
Following up with a rehab program after detox is essential. It is during rehab that you learn how to relax or reduce stress without the need for benzos. You are taught to recognize triggers that once caused you to reach for the pills, and to respond differently.
Here is what to expect in inpatient rehab :
- Talk therapy. A licensed psychotherapist guides the individual in exploring addictive triggers or behaviors that keep them enslaved to the benzos. CBT is helpful in changing the thought and behavior patterns.
- Group counseling. A therapist leads small groups in discussions about the addiction and recovery process.
- Addiction counseling. You will learn how addiction develops in the brain and how to avoid a relapse, and gain important recovery tools.
- Holistic methods. Holistic therapies can augment the effects of the traditional therapies by addressing the whole person. These might include yoga, massage, meditation, acupuncture, and cupping therapy.
Pacific Bay Recovery Benzodiazepine Detox and Rehab
Pacific Bay Recovery offers the full spectrum of detox and treatment services for someone struggling with a benzo addiction. If you want to know how do you detox from benzodiazepines, please reach out to us. We can walk you through the whole process and help you get started with detox and then treatment. Contact us today at (619) 350-8220.
