Benzodiazepine Detox and Withdrawal Treatment
Benzodiazepine is a sedative often prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and sometimes for seizures. Name brands include Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin, Librium, and Restoril. However, they are also highly addictive and have led thousands into the cycle of addictive drug use, seeking to use more and more over time to achieve the desired opiate-like sedative effects. When dealt as an illicit drug, they are often referred to as "Benzos," and the risk for overdose becomes exponentially higher when paired with true opiates or alcohol.
Benzodiazepines detox is not easy to do.
If you or someone you know has been suffering from benzodiazepine addiction and is in need of detox and withdrawal treatment in Alabama, Kolbe Health Services can help. We understand that benzodiazepines are extremely difficult to kick on your own, and we will take care of you during the most difficult part of achieving sobriety and freedom from addiction.
Benzodiazepine Detox and Withdrawal Treatment
Detoxing from benzodiazepines will trigger a withdrawal response. Your body has habituated to functioning with a powerful anxiety and tremor suppressant and must adjust to self-regulating these processes again. Many people detoxing from benzodiazepine go through a very difficult experience that can be medically dangerous without care and medical professionals nearby.
Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be intense and is often psychologically frightening, making it even more difficult not to go back. This is why Kolbe Health Services offers inpatient benzodiazepine detox and withdrawal treatment for those seeking relief.
What are the Signs and Symptoms Of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms begin around 24 hours after the last dose. The symptoms can last a few days to several months, depending on the strength of the amount and how long the patient was using benzodiazepine before going through withdrawal.
Common symptoms include:
- Sleep disturbances
- Insomnia
- Panic attacks
- Tremors
- Difficulty concentrating
- Headache
- Sweating
- Muscle stiffness and body tension
- Changes in perception and vision
- Cravings
Less common symptoms include:
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Psychotic reactions
- Suicidal ideation
Phases Of Benzodiazepine Detox
6-8 hours
During the first signs of withdrawal, the symptoms often treated by benzodiazepines may arise, including anxiety and insomnia. This may be all that is experienced by short-term users.
Days 1-4
"Rebound" is a well-known effect of benzodiazepines detox, in which returning anxiety and insomnia reach a peak. During this time, the patient may experience intense psychological discomfort. Other symptoms like increased heart rate, nausea, aches, tremors, and mild hallucinations may peak as well.
Days 5-14
Withdrawal will typically continue for up to 14 days before fading within 3-4 weeks after the quit date.
Days 15+
Those heavily dependent on benzodiazepines may experience post-acute withdrawal (PAWS). This includes random periods of sharp withdrawal symptoms up to several months after quitting, including anxiety, insomnia, and body aches.
Long-term Benzodiazepine Detox Treatment Options
Unlike other medications, withdrawal from serious benzodiazepine use can continue for months, with the resurgence of symptoms at unpredictable times as dependence on the drug fades. Kolbe Health Services offers long-term benzodiazepine detox treatment in order to support those who need ongoing care to deal with anxiety, insomnia, psychosis, cravings, and other lasting effects after a benzodiazepine detox.
Don't Detox Alone. Turn to Kolbe Health Services
No one should have to face detox or withdrawal alone. Kolbe Health Services is here to ensure that you have both the medical care and the personal support you need to free yourself from benzodiazepine addiction. We will ensure that you make it safely through your detox and that you always have someone to turn to when withdrawal symptoms or your desire to ease the symptoms treated by benzodiazepine return to your life. Contact us today to begin your journey to wellness.
"When I first came to Kolbe Clinic, it was as a last resort after 5 years of heavy drug use and various methods of achieving sobriety. Now that I have been in the program for 9 months, I wish I would have come here years ago. While unsuccessfully trying other ways of recovery, I always had been told that medically assisted treatment such as Suboxone doesn’t work and unfortunately I believed it. Now, I would never recommend anything else to someone struggling with addiction. The people at Kolbe Clinic have not only provided a perfect pathway of recovery, but also have been there along the way for anything that I may need. The day that I got started in this program was not only the day that I got my life back, but also was the day that I became able to do anything with it. The ways in which my life has changed for the better are indescribable and I no longer have to worry about the millions of problems and terrible feelings that came along with my substance abuse. I can now focus on the things that I want and need to make my life better. After less than a year I have become a completely different person with amazing relationships & qualities about myself that didn’t exist before. It can sometimes take a miracle to get out of the endless cycle of addiction, and I believe that’s what this program has given me." Written by: Mr. O. Current patient of Kolbe Clinic