Medically Supervised Benzodiazepine Detox

The Risks of Taking Benzodiazepines

While benzodiazepines can be effective at managing anxiety, insomnia, and even alcohol withdrawal, taking them for reasons other than what was prescribed and for longer periods than necessary increases the risk of addiction.

Benzodiazepine use is a problem in the United States. A recent study found that the amount of these types of drugs prescribed to Americans has more than tripled since the mid-1990s and that benzodiazepines are responsible for approximately one-third of all deaths from prescription drug overdoses. Between 1996 and 2013, the number of adults filling a benzodiazepine prescription increased 67 percent, from 8.1 million to 13.5 million (Source: The American Journal of Public Health (2016)).

Some doctors warn that the benefits of benzodiazepines can be overestimated and may cause the very symptoms a patient is trying to overcome, including insomnia and anxiety. Long-term use can lead to dependence, addiction, and cognitive damage.

What are Benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines are prescription tranquilizers and sedatives — such as Valium, Ativan, Xanax, Tranxene, and Klonopin — that are used to treat mental health and sleep disorders such as anxiety and insomnia. This makes them prime candidates for substance abuse.

Benzodiazepines come in two forms. Some benzodiazepines act on your brain and body for longer than others: the half-life of each drug is a helpful way to understand how long a drug’s effects may last.
Short-acting benzos have a shorter half-life. This means that the drugs are processed and leave your body more quickly. Short-acting benzos have a higher risk of withdrawal symptoms, because your body has less time to adapt to working without the drug once you stop taking it.

Long-acting benzos have a longer half-life. This means that the drugs are processed by your body more slowly and take longer to leave the body. You’re more likely to experience a ‘hangover’ effect when taking these drugs.

Today, the mental health community uses the term hypnotic, sedative, or anxiolytic use disorder to describe benzodiazepine abuse or addiction. This term comes from a main mental health book for clinicians, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition. In order to be diagnosed with a sedative use disorder, at least two of a possible 11 symptoms must manifest within the same 12- month period. The National Association of Addiction Professionals explains each symptom, five of which are paraphrased here:

• The sedative is taken in a higher volume or over a longer time period than first intended.
• Considerable time is spent getting the drug, using it, and recovering from its effects.
• When the drug is not in a person’s system, the person experiences withdrawal, which can include cravings for the drug.
• Over time, more of the drug is needed to achieve the familiar desired effects (i.e., tolerance).
• The person experiences impaired performance at home, work, or school due to the drug’s effects.

The sedative effect of these drugs, as well as their addiction-forming chemical properties, makes them ripe for abuse. Since these are prescription drugs, it is critical to note that some individuals may initially have a legitimate medical reason to use them, but over time, they develop a substance abuse disorder. If a patient who has a prescription for a benzodiazepine follows their doctor’s orders, a substance abuse disorder will not likely set in.

Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable, and even dangerous, so it is important to undergo detox with the medical supervision of experienced health care providers at a reputable treatment center.

If you or a loved one are going through benzo withdrawal, or are struggling with addiction to benzos or other forms of substance abuse, reach out to Gallus Medical Detox. Our staff would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our addiction treatment and the benzodiazepine detox process.