Benzo Detox
Benzodiazepines, often called a “benzo”, are highly addictive prescription sedatives (sleeping pills) or depressants, typically prescribed to treat anxiety, panic disorder, seizures, and insomnia. These medications are widely prescribed, making them easier to obtain and abuse than, say, crack cocaine. Unfortunately, the accessibility of benzo has lead to wide spread abuse, making the need for benzo detox a necessity.
Abusing benzodiazepines may cause amnesia, hostility, irritability, vivid or disturbing dreams, and they also slow down the central nervous system. Moreover, benzo withdrawal can be life-threatening, often resulting in grand mal seizures and death. To safely and effectively recover from benzo addiction, it is important to withdrawal off these drugs in a benzo detox program.
What Are Benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines, often abbreviated as “benzos,” are a class of psychoactive drugs that have a central nervous system depressant effect. These medications are commonly prescribed for their anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing), sedative, hypnotic (sleep-inducing), muscle relaxant, and anticonvulsant properties. Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the activity of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, meaning it reduces the activity of nerve cells in the brain.
Some common benzodiazepines include:
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin)
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Lorazepam (Ativan)
These medications are prescribed for various medical conditions, including anxiety disorders, panic disorders, insomnia, muscle spasms, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal. Benzodiazepines are typically intended for short-term use due to the risk of tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal symptoms associated with prolonged use.
If you or someone you know is struggling with benzodiazepine abuse, please reach out for help today.
What Are the Dangers of Benzo Abuse?
There are many dangers associated with benzo abuse. Benzodiazepines (benzos) are powerful sedatives and tranquilizers commonly prescribed to treat anxiety. While they can be effective for treating mood disorders when taken as prescribed, taking them in any other way is incredibly risky. Abusing benzos carries a number of serious risks, including addiction, overdose, physical dependence, and long-term health issues.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 30% of opioid-involved overdoses also involved benzodiazepines, meaning drug rehab for benzos often involves simultaneous opioid detox. The combination of benzodiazepines with other drugs or alcohol is common and extremely dangerous. Chronic misuse of benzodiazepines can lead to tolerance as well as physical dependence that can make quitting benzos challenging.
What Is Benzo Withdrawal?
When a person stops taking benzodiazepine after a period of abuse they can expect various withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms of benzodiazepines vary from case to case and depend on factors like the specific type, amount, and length of abuse.
Benzo Withdrawal Symptoms
If a person abruptly stops using benzo after forming a physical dependence on the drug, they will experience withdrawal symptoms. To make matters worse, people may also experience a “rebound” of their initial symptoms that the benzodiazepine prescription initially treated.
While benzo withdrawal symptoms vary depending on the specific type of benzo used and its intended effects, common symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Irritability
- Poor concentration
- Restlessness
- Tremors
- Tingling
- Sweating
- Blurry vision
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Muscle cramps
- Stomach aches
- Nausea
More severe benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms include:
- Suicidal thoughts
- Paranoia
- Psychosis
- Hallucinations
- Delirium
- Seizures
These more severe symptoms are more likely to occur in people who stop taking high doses of short-acting benzodiazepines abruptly without medical supervision.
Self-Assessment: Am I Addicted?
Benzo Withdrawal Timeline
When a person stops taking benzodiazepine after a period of abuse they can expect various withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms of benzodiazepines vary from case to case and depend on factors like abuse history. The timeline for the withdrawals can change depending on whether a person is detoxing from short-acting or long-acting benzodiazepines.
Short-acting benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, Ativan, and Restoril, have a half-life of less than 24 hours and can cause withdrawal symptoms to appear within 8 to 12 hours of stopping the drug.
Long-acting benzodiazepines, such as Valium, Klonopin, and Librium, have a half-life of more than 24 hours and can cause withdrawal symptoms to appear within a few days of stopping the drug.
The timeline of benzodiazepine withdrawal depends on several factors, such as the type of benzodiazepine used (short-acting or long-acting), the dose, the duration of use, the presence of other substances, and individual factors.
6-12 hours First Signs of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
Soon after cessation of benzodiazepine use, withdrawal begins to set in and people begin experiencing cravings and a range of other short-term symptoms. Typically, the first signs of short-acting benzo withdrawal occur after 6 to 8 hours after the last dose. Withdrawal symptoms of long-acting benzodiazepines, however, typically to occur later after 1 to 3 days.
1-4 Days Acute Phase of Short-Acting Benzo Withdrawal
Acute withdrawal symptoms of short-acting benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and Ativan, often occur after 1 to 4 days. These benzos often result in more intense symptoms that peak faster when compare to long-acting benzos. At this point, people may experience panic, tremors, sweating, insomnia, muscle cramping, stiffness, and nausea.
4-8 Days Acute Phase of Long-Acting Benzo Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms of short-acting benzodiazepines, such as Valium and Klonopin, often occur after 4 to 8 days. These benzos typically result in less intense symptoms that peak slower when compare to short-acting benzos. At this point, people may experience anxiety, restlessness, sweating, abdominal cramping, and nausea.
+2 Weeks Subacute Phase of Benzo Withdrawal
Subacute withdrawal is the second phase that can last from several weeks to several months. It involves long-term symptoms that persist after the acute phase, such as low energy, difficulty focusing, sleep disturbances, sensory sensitivity, muscle weakness, digestive issues, trembling limbs, tingling skin, pain, and difficulty driving or walking .
+1 Year Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome
Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms from short-acting benzos usually peak on the second day and improve by the fourth or fifth day, but they can last for several weeks in some case. The withdrawal symptoms from long-acting benzodiazepines usually peak in the first or second week and gradually improve over the next few weeks or months. However, there is a chance of protracted withdrawal with long-acting benzos, meaning they can last for several months or even years in some cases. This uncommon condition (10-15 of cases) is known as protracted withdrawal syndrome.
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What To Expect In Benzo Detox?
Withdrawal and detox from benzodiazepines is considered to be dangerous, so withdrawal symptoms from drugs in this classification should be managed under medical supervision. In serious cases, benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can include psychosis or seizures, which, if unmanaged, can be fatal. Royal Life Centers at Spokane Heights is experienced in helping our guests safely detox from benzos. We have a medical team that monitors guests 24/7 for their safety, administering medication in order to wean the body off of the drug.
Typically, after completing a benzo detox, guests will continue on to be treated in our two-week residential inpatient program. Detox from benzos is important – however, it’s only the first step in the recovery process. In inpatient rehab, guests can begin to work on how to live and manage life without drug abuse.
After Benzo Detox
Finally, after the withdrawal phase is complete and you’ve been medically cleared from our benzo detox facility, guests move on to our residential inpatient program. Then, they can begin working on themselves and the root cause of their benzo addiction. Because drug addictions are often linked to mental illness, this could mean addressing any dual diagnosis issues like depression or anxiety disorder. Guests at our recovery center will receive intensive addiction therapies, work with a case manager, in addition to learning skills to do with stress management and relapse prevention that create a productive life of sobriety. Our guests will also work individually with their case manager to create a treatment plan designed solely for them, their goals, and their needs.
After completing inpatient rehab, our clients can take advantage of a wide variety of aftercare options including a 9-week program that starts with PHP goes on to IOP, then finally outpatient treatment. Beyond outpatient rehab, there is also our sober living program, for those who need a little more time before fully rejoining society. At every step in the recovery process, we provide guests treatment options in order to best fit their recovery. Our holistic approach focuses on treating the mind, body, and spirit of each guest, therefore creating lasting sobriety.
If you or a loved one is struggling with a benzodiazepine addiction, or any substance use disorder, please reach out to us at (888) 907-0898 to discuss detox and treatment options. Our admissions team is available 24/7 to steer you in the right direction. Because We Care.
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Benzodiazepine Detox & Treatment at Royal Life Centers
At Royal Life Centers at Spokane Heights, our detox program ensures a comfortable experience for individuals withdrawing from benzodiazepines like Xanax, Librium, Valium, and Ativan. The slow elimination of benzodiazepines from the body, coupled with tolerance issues, can make withdrawal challenging. Our detox services for substance abuse focus on making guests physically and mentally comfortable as they begin their journey to recovery.
Our unique levels of care include:
Understanding what benzodiazepine addiction is, how benzo withdrawal affects the body, and the value of professional help can offer clarity and comfort to those seeking treatment in a benzo detox facility for themselves or a loved one. Get in touch with our team and learn more about recovery today!
Find a Benzo Detox Near Me in Washington
To ensure the utmost care and accessibility for our guests, we have established multiple recovery centers across Washington. At Royal Life Centers, our nationwide addiction treatment programs and centers are designed to provide comprehensive care for those seeking recovery.
One of our notable centers is Royal Life Centers at Spokane Heights, a benzo detox and residential inpatient facility. Here, we offer a supportive environment to begin your recovery journey. After completing the inpatient treatment, we encourage transitioning to Cascade Heights, our aftercare and outpatient facility. This will further strengthen your coping skills and prevent relapse.
Within Washington, we have several detoxification and residential facilities available, including:
Additionally, we offer aftercare and outpatient treatment centers throughout the state, such as:
When you feel prepared to conquer benzo addiction and embark on a fulfilling life of sobriety, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. You can contact us at 888-907-0898 or by filling out our secure contact form. Our admissions team is available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have regarding our benzo detox program and assist you in verifying your insurance coverage for rehab.
Looking for Benzo Detox Services?
If you or someone you love is struggling with benzodiazepine addiction, please reach out to us to find out more about how our benzo detox services can help. We work with most private insurance policies and offer affordable self-pay rates if you do not have insurance. Give us a call and we will figure out the best treatment plan for you or your loved one.
Because We Care.
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we hope you’ll begin your journey with us at Royal Life Centers.
