Benzodiazepines are sedatives. Benzodiazepine addiction occurs when someone becomes physically dependent. Usually, doctors will prescribe benzo short-term. For example, someone might receive a prescription for around 2 to 4 weeks. Another name for these drugs are benzos. They are offered in solution or tablet form. However, some people are mixing them with other drugs and injecting them into their veins.
If you believe you or someone you know is suffering from benzodiazepine addiction, it is a good idea to contact our Harmony Health Group team to get clean from them starting today.
Benzodiazepines will usually be taken through your mouth by table or solution. In rare situations they can be injected to help control panic attacks.
Reasons to Take Benzos
There are numerous reasons why someone might take benzos. Some of the most common reasons why these drugs are prescribed include:
- Short term relief for severe anxiety
- Panic disorder treatment for severe panic attacks
- Insomnia treatment for nights when you just can’t sleep
- Severe, disabling distress
- Acute alcohol withdrawal (to help you through the symptoms of withdrawal such as seizure prevention)
If you were prescribed benzos for any of these reasons and benzodiazepine addiction is a problem for you, our Harmony Health Group team can help you to overcome it.
Different Types of Benzos
There are different types of benzos involved in benzodiazepine addiction. They are anxiolytics and hypnotics. The anxiolytics last longer than the hypnotics. Anxiolytics are generally used to treat anxiety and hypnotics are usually used to treat sleep issues.
Some of the commonly prescribed hypnotic benzos are:
- Loprazolam
- Flurazepam
- Lormatezepam
- Nitrazepam
- Temazepam
Some of the most commonly prescribed anxiolytic benzos are:
- Alprazolam
- Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride
- Diazepam
- Lorazepam
- Oxazepam
- Clobazam
No matter which medication your benzodiazepine addiction is with, you can reach out to our Harmony Health Group for the support and treatment you need.
Side Effects and Withdrawal from Benzodiazepine Drugs
There are numerous side effects that can occur with benzodiazepine addiction. Some of these effects may include:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Sleepiness
- Confusion
- Headache
- Reduced awareness
- Numb emotions
- Tremor
- Muscle weakness
- Speaking, balance, walking, vision, swallowing, eating, and writing issues
- Increased risk of falls and fractures
- Addiction
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach upset
- Depression
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Increased appetite
- Delusions
- Memory loss
- Aggression
If you want to prevent some of these side effects or stop the ones you are experiencing, the best choice would be to get into an addiction treatment program as soon as possible.
Withdrawal Symptoms to Know About
If you have benzodiazepine addiction, you will generally have withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them. The most common withdrawal symptoms that occur when someone stops taking these drugs include:
- Weakness
- Stiffness
- Flu-like symptoms
- Stomach issues
- Visual issues
- Insomnia
- Depersonalization
- Nightmares
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Concentration/memory issues
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Seizures
If you want to better manage these withdrawal symptoms, a professional detox center can help with this. There are treatments such as medication-assisted treatment that can help to reduce and manage any withdrawal symptoms that you might experience. The added comfort from these services is what helps many people to get and stay clean.
Treatments for Benzo Abuse or Addiction
How do you know which treatments are going to help with benzodiazepine addiction? Well, there isn’t just one set of treatments that will work for every person. However, there are general treatments that can help to treat a benzo addiction that you may want to know about. Some of these treatment options include:
- Outpatient therapy
- Intensive outpatient therapy
- Partial hospitalization treatment
- Inpatient rehab treatment
In each of these treatment programs, you will work through underlying issues that may have caused the benzodiazepine addiction.
Driving while Using Benzodiazepines
Many people want to know whether they can drive when they are using benzodiazepines. The truth is that it isn’t safe for anyone to drive while they are under the influence of these drugs. Some of the reasons why you shouldn’t drive when taking benzos are that they:
- Cause tiredness
- Make reaction times much slower
- Affect judgment
Even if you don’t think the medication is affecting your judgment or impairing you in any way, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t. Even the slightest impairment could cause you or someone else their life due to a car accident.
Get Treatment for Benzodiazepine Addiction Today
Do you or someone you know have benzodiazepine addiction? If so, there are numerous treatments that can help you to get clean. The first step is to admit that you need help and to start reaching out to our team to do the assessment. That way, we can find out which treatments to add into your treatment plan.
Contact us today to get treatment started for benzodiazepine addiction.