Withdrawal from benzodiazepines, called benzos, can be unbearable. The symptoms are many and can be severe. They affect your physical and mental state and can last for weeks, months, or longer. As dangerous as the use of the drug can be, withdrawal carries with it the same risks, especially if not monitored properly. Plus, withdrawing improperly from benzos can lead to death. Benzo use is on the rise, and many consider it an epidemic. Going through withdrawal at a drug detox center like Northpoint Washington, where you can be monitored 24/7 by medical professionals as part of inpatient treatment, is a wise choice for your best chance at recovery.
What Are Benzos?
Doctors commonly prescribe benzos to treat anxiety, seizures, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is a depressant that helps to calm the central nervous system. As much as they can help patients, the problem is that they are also highly addictive and often overprescribed and misused. They are also illegally dealt and sought after for their ability to make users feel relaxed and in a state of euphoria.
Some of the most commonly prescribed brand name benzos are:
- Xanax
- Ativan
- Valium
- Klonopin
- Halcion
Benzo Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal from any substance misuse can be excruciating, especially so from benzos. You can experience withdrawal symptoms whether you start using the drug less or try to stop completely. Many users think they need a higher dose and don’t realize they are experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Going cold turkey when trying to stop any drug is never recommended. Medical supervision is the safest way to withdraw from any medication.
Some of the most common benzo withdrawal symptoms are:
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Insomnia
- Memory loss
- Depression
- Muscle aches
- Tinnitus
- Nausea and vomiting
- Numbness
- Blurred vision
- Hallucinations
- Skin crawling
- Grand mal seizures
Inpatient Treatment For Benzo Use
There’s a lot of misinformation surrounding benzo use, especially for patients with an active prescription from their doctor. They assume it must be safe to use and they aren’t at risk of addiction because they got it from a doctor. Then, when they try to stop using the drug, they don’t realize the severity of the withdrawal because that information isn’t emphasized when they receive it. Which is one reason monitored programs like inpatient rehab are so important when trying to stop taking benzos.
Dealing with the withdrawal symptoms listed above is not something you want to try to do on your own without help and the proper recovery environment. Medically supervised withdrawal or detox at an accredited treatment facility like Northpoint Washington will ensure that you remove the drug from your system safely, with the support you need.
After removing the drug from your system safely, you’ll need rehabilitation to understand how the addiction came to be and avoid those triggers in the future. These are things that an inpatient program can help you with, as well as a variety of individual, group, and family therapies.
Benefits of inpatient rehab include:
- Medically supervised detox
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) if needed
- Learning relapse prevention techniques
- An entire focus on recovery while away from home, work, and school
- A proven track record of long term recovery success
Contact Northpoint Washington to Help Manage Benzo Withdrawal
Withdrawing from benzos can be difficult and sometimes dangerous. For this reason, anyone who wants to stop using benzos should do so while under the care of a benzo addiction treatment center. Our team is here to help you start your recovery journey. Call on the Northpoint Washington team to:
- Help you find treatment for a loved one
- Discuss the variety of treatment options
- Assist with verifying insurance coverage
- Walk you through the admissions process
Give our team a call at 888.450.2153 to learn more about benzo withdrawal symptoms and how to manage the withdrawal process safely and effectively under medical supervision.