Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment
Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed tranquilizers used for the treatment of muscle spasms, seizures, anxiety, and panic attacks.
Florida Benzodiazepines Addiction Treatment
Fort Myers Rehab
At Celadon Recovery, we want every patient to experience an optimized benzodiazepine addiction treatment protocol. Since we understand the “sticking” power medications like Xanax carry, we ensure your comfort throughout detoxification. Once a medical detox is complete, our benzo addiction specialists help patients to understand the root causes of their addiction. Whether it’s past trauma, anxiety, or other mental health problem, we teach each patient how to manage their emotions without drugs like Xanax, Ativan, or Valium. All our patients receive a customized treatment plans in our Fort Myers treatment center which can includes some of the highlighted therapies:
- Trauma response therapy
- Meditation / yoga
- Mindful cognitive behavioral therapy (MCBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Family therapy
What Are Benzodiazepines?
Benzos are prescription drugs utilized for panic disorders, anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. They slow the connection between the brain and body by raising GABA levels in the brain. Inpatient and outpatient healthcare providers use them to calm severe, uncontrolled anxiety.
Most Benzodiazepines come in pill or tablet form. Brands like Valium can become in a clear odorless liquid. Benzodiazepines are legal when they are prescribed by a medical doctor. However, there are many black market benzos that exist as well. Some street names for benzodiazepine drugs are Tranks, Bars, Downers, Sticks, Ladders, or simply benzos.
Some common Benzodiazepines include:
- Ativan
- Halcion
- Klonopin
- Librium
- Rohypnol
- Valium
- Xanax
How Tranquilizers Affect Us?
Benzo Side Effects
When used as directed, benzos can be lifesavers for mental health issues – despite some of the side effects they cause. The least troubling side effects are drowsiness and relaxation, as those reactions are what these drugs induce. Severe effects of benzodiazepines include suicidal thoughts, memory loss, labored breathing, and difficulty concentrating. Higher doses of benzos are more likely to cause significant effects.
Benzodiazepines also have interactions with other drugs that could be life-threatening. Opioids, alcohol, and certain antidepressants have problematic interactions with benzos.
Benzodiazepine Addiction and the Brain
The risk of benzodiazepine addiction depends on several factors, such as the amount of the drug prescribed, if a person is predisposed to addictive substances, or has past substance abuse problems and long-term use. Physicians prescribing these medications take the past health information of the patient into consideration. Usually, the positive effects of benzos outweigh the consequences of not taking them – especially if a patient has a debilitating condition.
Benzo addiction can happen in as little as two weeks. Benzodiazepine overdose symptoms include vision loss, fast heart rate, depression, and possibly death, especially when combined with alcohol and narcotics.
High-Risk for Physical Dependency
One of the first red flags of a drug problem is physical dependence, and benzos are no different. In fact, dependency can happen in a matter of weeks. With chronic use, a tolerance will develop and may require taking more than prescribed to achieve the same calming effect.
Indicators of physical dependency include:
- Early refill request
- Excessive fatigue
- Doctor shopping
- Increase in alcohol consumption
Any one of these responses could indicate physical dependence, but the number one sign is withdrawal syndrome. Long-term users are most likely to experience Benzodiazepine withdrawal. Moreover, symptoms can (and do) include seizures, coma, and in severe cases, death. Valium and Xanax are the most commonly abused Benzodiazepines because of their short-acting onset and have the most pronounced withdrawal symptoms.
Benzo FAQs
What is the concern of benzos?
Benzos are highly addictive and cause medical problems during use and once someone has abruptly stopped. Drugs like Xanax can create shallow breathing and create respiratory distress. At the same time, a person who stops taking their benzo medication is susceptible to dangerous seizures. Both are life threatening.
Why are doctors against benzodiazepines?
Addiction, dependency, and lethal side-effects. Benzodiazepines are exceedingly addictive and intensify the risk of a substance use disorder. Signs of benzo dependence or addiction may include: using higher doses, doctor shopping, and blackouts.
What is safer than benzodiazepines?
People with addiction concerns may take advantage of non-controlled anxiety medications. For example, SSRIs, Buspar, beta-blockers, pregabalin, gabapentin, and antihistamine products are alternative options to Benzos.
Southwest Florida Rehab for Benzos
Fort Myers Benzodiazepines Addiction Treatment
If you’re suffering from a benzo addiction, you do not have to endure it alone. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states detoxification, therapy, rehabilitation, and tapering are all proven to help addiction. On our Fort Myers campus, our Florida Benzodiazepines addiction treatment program will get you feeling great again. A the same time, our team will find you find the right medication and therapeutic approach for long-term benzo recovery.
Addiction treatment is available and most insurance companies pay for at least some form of inpatient therapy. The benzo treatment process is as follows:
- Medical detox
- Residential treatment
- Outpatient programs
- Ongoing medication management
Detox is the most challenging step during Benzo rehab. Upon successful completion of detoxification, patients begin residential treatment and attend integrated individual and group therapy to tackle the behavioral side of their Xanax, Ativan, Valium, or other benzo use.
