Two of the most familiar types of benzodiazepines remain Valium and Xanax. With all the stress in today’s modern world, benzodiazepines get used in increasing numbers in recent days. A prescription remains required to get benzodiazepines legally. Unfortunately, this drug remains attainable without a prescription when use turns into drug abuse. Can you complete benzo withdrawal at rehab? In many cases, you can complete benzo detox and go straight into a treatment program.
Legitimate uses for benzodiazepines include:
• Anxiety.
• Alcohol withdrawal.
• Insomnia.
• Seizures.
• Relaxing muscles.
• As an anesthetic before surgery.
When a benzodiazepine gets used, it acts on the body’s central nervous system and provides sedation, reduced anxiety, and relaxation of muscles.
Benzodiazepine Use and Abuse Symptoms
When using as prescribed, benzos can help people with anxiety and insomnia. Unfortunately, people tend to use increased doses of this drug or mix the medication with alcohol. Mixing benzos with other drugs or alcohol can become lethal.
The Signs of Benzodiazepine Use and Abuse
Signs of taking too much of a benzodiazepine include:
• Sleepiness.
• Confusion.
• Dizziness.
• Blurry vision.
• Feeling weak.
• Appearing uncoordinated.
• Slurred speech.
• Trouble breathing.
• Coma.
Unfortunately, if benzos get abused enough, the user will experience most of the symptoms for which they started taking benzodiazepines in the first place, such as:
• Anxiety.
• Insomnia.
• Anorexia.
Even if you take the benzos as directed, this powerful drug can rewire how your brain works. Benzos remain highly addictive, and you can become dependent on them even after only using the medication for a short time.
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal and Detox
The symptoms of benzodiazepine remain significant and serious, so going off the drug “cold turkey” remains an inappropriate choice. Withdrawal from benzos resembles the symptoms of anxiety. The withdrawal period from this chemical lasts from four days to two weeks.
Benzo withdrawal frequently includes medically supervised weaning of the drug from a person’s system. You’ll get given lower doses of benzos increasingly until you can safely go without the medication altogether. Benzo withdrawal can be very challenging to go through without professionally supervised help.
Some benzo withdrawal symptoms include:
• Significantly increased heart rate.
• Panic attacks.
• Insomnia.
• Tremors.
• Hallucinations.
You’ll also experience the symptoms that you were taking the benzos for in the first place, only worse. This phenomenon remains known as the Rebound Effect. The effects of benzo withdrawal become worse the longer the drug gets used. The only cure remains to go through detox and get the experience over.
Getting Help with Benzo Withdrawal
Some of the medications you’ll get given to help you get off benzos more comfortably include:
• Clonazepam.
• Clonidine.
• Buspirone.
• Flumazenil.
• Ativan.
• Valium.
Other medications that don’t contain benzodiazepines might also get used to help you get the chemical out of your system safely.
The Two Phases of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
Acute Withdrawal from Benzodiazepine, Phase I
The acute withdrawal phase of benzo withdrawal lasts from five to 14 days. One of the primary characteristics of the acute withdrawal phase remains anxiety and hypersensitivity. Descriptions of hypersensitivity include feeling a swaying motion, hallucinations, and sensing distortions of yourself and the surrounding world. You might feel restless, have panic attacks, feel excitement for no particular reason, and become depressed. Other symptoms of this phase of withdrawal include:
• Weakness and dizziness.
• Sweating.
• Muscle pain.
• Heart palpitations.
• Confusion.
• Extreme sensitivity to light and sound.
• Insomnia and nightmares.
Protracted Withdrawal Phase of Benzo Detox
The prolonged withdrawal phase lasts from 12 to 18 months. It includes the symptoms mentioned above but greatly lessened. Brain functioning slowly becomes stabilized without the substance’s use. The main feelings you’ll experience during this time include:
• Lessened forms of anxiety.
• Depression.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Irritability and mood swings.
• Reduction of appetite.
• Trouble concentrating.
• Restlessness.
Inpatient Benzodiazepine Detox
You’ll stay at the detox as a part of your rehab, and remain there 24-7 to get the correct treatment and assistance you need. If you take more than 10 mg of a benzodiazepine per day, you’ll need to consider using an inpatient facility setting for your withdrawal.
Going through benzodiazepine withdrawal remains a long and complicated process. We can help you find the detox and rehab that you or a loved one needs to overcome benzo addiction. Please contact our specialists in benzo and other addictions today for help at 833-846-5669.