Key Takeaways
- Benzo Withdrawal is Serious: Stopping benzodiazepines too quickly can cause dangerous symptoms, including seizures.
- Medical Detox is Essential: Medical detox helps manage withdrawal safely, reducing the risk of life-threatening effects.
- Virtue Recovery Houston Provides Support: Our addiction treatment programs offer the help needed for safe benzo addiction recovery.
Introduction
Benzodiazepines (also known as benzos) are prescription medications used to treat anxiety, sleep disorders, and other conditions. While they can be helpful when used correctly, benzos are highly addictive. When someone stops using them after long-term use, the body can go through withdrawal, which can be extremely dangerous. In some cases, benzo withdrawal can even be life-threatening. This article will explain the risks of benzodiazepine withdrawal and how medical detox can make the process safer.
What are Benzodiazepines (Benzos)?
Benzodiazepines are drugs such as Xanax, Valium, and Ativan, which are used in the treatment of anxiety, panic disorders, or sleep disorders. They achieve this by suppressing the brain and the nervous system, but they are also addictive and can cause benzo addiction if taken for a long time or in larger quantities than the recommended dosage.
Benzos are addictive, and after some time, the body becomes dependent on the drug to perform its normal functions. When a person decides to quit benzos, the body has a severe reaction, and withdrawal symptoms can be complicated and life-threatening if not under medical supervision.
What Happens During Benzo Withdrawal?
When someone who is addicted to benzodiazepines stops using the drug, they may experience a range of withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can begin within hours or days after the last dose and last several weeks.
Common benzo withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
- Tremors or shaking
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
These symptoms can vary in intensity depending on how long the person has been using benzos and at what dosage. While some people experience milder symptoms, others may go through severe, life-threatening reactions, especially if they quit benzos suddenly.
Can Benzo Withdrawal Kill You?
Yes, benzo withdrawal can be life-threatening. The most dangerous is seizures, which can occur when someone quits benzodiazepines too quickly. Seizures can cause injury, brain damage, or even death. Additionally, withdrawal can lead to high blood pressure and heart problems, further increasing the risk of fatal complications.
Because of these dangers, it’s crucial not to stop taking benzos alone. Quitting “cold turkey” (suddenly stopping simultaneously) can be risky. That’s why medical detox is essential for people recovering from benzo addiction.
The Importance of Medical Detox for Benzo Addiction
The best way to quit benzodiazepines is through medical detoxification. In medical detoxification, doctors and nurses watch over the patient as he or she goes through the withdrawal symptoms. They can assist in controlling the symptoms, give drugs to reduce pain, and can also act at once if there are severe side effects.
In a medical detoxification process, the person is slowly taken off the benzos to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms such as seizures. This process is known as ‘tapering. ’ This is because the medical practitioners will gradually decrease the amount of the drug being administered to the body so that the body can be gradually weaned off the drug without causing adverse effects.
Why is Medical Detox Important?
- Safety: Trained professionals monitor your health 24/7 to keep you safe.
- Comfort: Medications can be provided to make the process easier and more manageable.
- Support: Emotional and psychological support helps you stay motivated and strong through withdrawal.
Addiction Treatment After Detox
Even though medical detox is helpful in the treatment of the physical aspect of benzo addiction, it is not the last process of the treatment of the addiction. It is recommended to follow detox with therapy, counseling, and support groups to treat the psychological and emotional aspects of addiction.
Addiction treatment often includes:
- Individual therapy: Working one-on-one with a therapist to understand the root causes of addiction.
- Group therapy: Connecting with others going through similar struggles and supporting each other.
- Family therapy: Involving loved ones in recovery to rebuild trust and strengthen relationships.
- Relapse prevention: Learning strategies to stay sober and avoid falling back into addiction.
At Virtue Recovery Houston, we provide individualized addiction treatment services that range from medical detoxification, counseling, and aftercare services to ensure that you get the best chance of overcoming benzo addiction.
Conclusion
Withdrawal from benzo can be lethal and, in some instances, fatal. If you decide to stop taking benzodiazepines without a doctor’s guidance, you are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms such as seizures. The best way to quit benzos is through medical detox, where doctors and nurses monitor you to ensure that you are not going through the process in the wrong way. After detoxification, it is crucial to follow through with other forms of treatment that will help in the recovery process of addiction.
Call Virtue Recovery Houston at 866-457-4811 today to learn more about our benzo addiction programs and how we can help you safely begin your journey to recovery.
FAQs For The Dangers of Benzo Withdrawals
What are benzodiazepines, and why are they dangerous?
Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that are prescribed for the management of anxiety and sleep disorders, but they are very addictive if taken for a long time.
What happens during benzo withdrawal?
Some of the withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, tremors, insomnia, and, in severe cases, one may experience life-threatening seizures.
Can benzo withdrawal be fatal?
Yes, in severe cases, benzo withdrawal can cause seizures or heart problems, which may be life-threatening.
Why is medical detox necessary for benzo addiction?
Medical detoxification is a process where individuals are taken through the process of withdrawal in a medical facility where doctors can manage the symptoms and prevent life-threatening situations.
How does Virtue Recovery Houston help with benzo addiction recovery?
We provide medical detoxification, individual and group counseling, and aftercare services to help in the treatment of benzo addiction.
Resources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4657308/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7841856/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0740547291900234
- About the Author
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Nicki Lugo is currently employed as Clinical Director at Virtue Recovery Center in Las Vegas. Nicki is a licensed clinical professional counselor (CPC) in the state of Nevada and a licensed associate counselor (LAC) in the state of Arizona. She is also a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor (LCADC) in Nevada. Additionally, Nicki has specialized training in treating trauma and is a certified clinical trauma specialist (CCTS).
Nicki has earned a Master of Science degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Behavioral Health from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Science in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University. Currently, Nicki is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counseling Education and Supervision at Grand Canyon University. Nicki’s research interests include the use of Positive Psychology interventions with dual diagnosis clients. Nicki hopes to contribute to the body of knowledge in treating substance use disorders.
Nicki’s long-term career goals include advancing in leadership roles within Virtue Recovery Center which is a quickly growing substance use disorder treatment facility. She hopes that one day her research and advocacy will help to save the lives of those who have been affected by substance use. She likes to say that advocacy is her passion and leadership is her superpower.
