Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are being prescribed at high frequency in the US and are often relatively easy to obtain.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, between 2014-2016, 27% of all visits to physicians offices resulted in a benzo prescription. In the same period, 88% of these benzo prescriptions were for long-term use.
Benzos are only recommended for short-term treatment of symptoms usually related to anxiety disorders or insomnia, and continued use of these sedatives results in physical dependence. Individuals who take these drugs for more than a few weeks may become addicted and need the support of medical detox to stop.
Physical dependence refers to adaptations in neurochemistry that result in the body requiring a specific drug to function normally.
In the case of benzos, this adaptation occurs in the central nervous system. Here, benzos interact with our brains receptors to make them more sensitive to a chemical called GABA. This chemical is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that produces calming, hypnotic, and anxiety-relieving effects.
The body tends to adapt to create a functional balance. Prolonged depression of the central nervous system with benzos results in the body adapting to the increased efficiency of GABA, and it increases its regular excitatory responses to combat this sedation.
At this point, medical professionals describe an individual as dependent because removing benzos from the system will result in an overwhelmingly stimulated and anxious state.
Once a person is suffering from benzo dependence, suddenly ceasing use of the drugs will result in a period of withdrawal.
The symptoms of this condition are different in each individual. In cases of long-term benzo dependence, withdrawal can be unmanageably severe and even life-threatening. Common symptoms of withdrawal from benzos include:
The onset of withdrawal symptoms plays out on different timelines depending on the type of drug used. Xanax and Halcion are fast-acting benzos that tend to wear off more quickly.
Withdrawal usually starts within eight hours for drugs like these.
Longer-acting benzos like Valium and Klonopin can take up to two days from the last dose of the drug before symptoms start to arise.
The second and most severe stage of withdrawal starts between one and four days after your final dose. Symptoms usually peak around this time, and the added physical and mental stress can be highly unpleasant. This stage may last up to four weeks.
Even after the initial detox resolves, many users experience something called post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS). These are unpredictable waves of withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, and dysphoria, and in some people, PAWS continues for months after quitting.
The decision to get help with benzo addiction is essential to getting your life back on track. The next step is finding a program that works best for you. At Cirque Lodge, we offer luxury personalized benzodiazepine addiction treatment.
Treatment at Cirque Lodge is residential and takes place in a relaxing campus surrounded by the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains in Sundance, Utah. Our inpatient program allows our clients to focus on recovery for an extended period without the distractions or pressures of everyday life.
When we start the detox process, we often use medically assisted treatment (MAT). This method eases withdrawal symptoms associated with dependence and makes your transition into recovery as easy and comfortable as possible.
The symptoms of withdrawal are varied and unpredictable, and in some cases, they can be extremely dangerous, both physically and psychologically.
Going through detox with medical support in a residential setting is the safest option. Detoxing this way means that we can treat any uncomfortable symptoms, prevent harm, and monitor your progress and well-being.
At Cirque Lodge, we provide individualized care to each client going through MAT for benzo addiction. We start by evaluating your withdrawal symptoms and usage history to get a complete picture of your dependence and present tolerance levels. After this, we prescribe and administer medication to ease your withdrawal symptoms as you progress through detox.
Long-acting drugs such as diazepam and clonazepam are very effective in benzodiazepine withdrawal treatment. We recommend a prescription sedative to detox, which we prescribe at low doses and slowly taper out. Our medical staff monitors and evaluates clients and adjusts the treatment regimen to meet their needs.
Other forms of anti-anxiety medication are sometimes prescribed, depending on the client’s symptoms and other factors.
Effective addiction treatment is not finished once you have successfully started detoxification. Individuals addicted to benzos often experience dependence as a two-sided coin – a physiological condition that can be treated with medical intervention and a psychological condition that requires other forms of therapy.
Treating the psychological side of dependence is crucial, as it plays into the compulsive thoughts and cravings that keep the cycle of addiction going.
Our residential treatment program is based on the 12-step program. Clients at Cirque Lodge take part in a treatment program designed to get to the heart of psychological dependence, which includes:
We also implement these therapies to help release the grip of physical dependence. This combined approach helps build coping strategies for individuals who experience post-acute withdrawal symptoms – the aftershocks of physical dependence. As mentioned above, PAWS can occasionally present for many people in recovery long after they have returned home. Success comes from building up the mindset and skills to maintain abstinence so that you can sustain a healthy, happy life of sobriety.
Benzo dependence clouds the mind and numbs emotional awareness.
The path to recovery and claiming back your authentic life is not always an easy one. Many people want a life free of addiction but are overwhelmed repeatedly by severe withdrawal symptoms and daily stressors. Residential medical treatment in our serene and secluded campus can help.
