Benzodiazepine Detox in Riverside County CA
Shahida's Place
We offer individualized, residential addiction treatment near Los Angeles, California.
Anxiety, insomnia, and other disorders can significantly influence day-to-day life, but there are ways to take control. As with any drug, it is possible to become dependent on benzodiazepines, which can be a complicated addiction to beat.
This article will help you gain a better understanding of what benzodiazepine addiction is and how Shahida’s Place can help. Our recovery solutions are developed alongside some of the top researchers in the field. We aim to help all of our patients lead a life free of addiction.
What are Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines or benzos are a class of psychoactive medications commonly prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and other stress-related conditions. Benzodiazepine detox is recommended for individuals who have been taking benzos for a prolonged period. Detox is especially ideal for people who want to stop using the drug but cannot without severe withdrawal symptoms.
So, How Do Benzodiazepines Work
This drug interacts with GABA receptors in the brain, responsible for relaxation and nervous system regulation. When you take a benzo drug, it binds to these receptors and prevents anxiety from forming.
Benzos were initially created as an alternative to opium-based pain relievers. They soon became more popular when patients realized how effective the drugs were at treating their symptoms. When patients become dependent on such medications, it can turn into an addiction. Addiction to benzodiazepines may leave them feeling uncomfortable if they try to quit “cold turkey.”
Signs of Benzodiazepine Addiction
Benzodiazepines can be used safely and effectively to treat various mental health conditions. However, the effect of the drug also has the ability to increase the risk of abuse. Our team at Shahida’s Place will examine if the signs for benzo addiction are present. These signs may indicate that a person has a problem with benzos:
Memory Complications.
Benzodiazepine addiction can cause memory problems, including loss of short-term memory. Benzos are a medication that works on the central nervous system, slowing down the body’s functions. Because of this, users may have trouble remembering things after taking the drug for some time.
Insomnia.
Abusing Benzodiazepines triggers neurotransmitter imbalances in the brain that cause insomnia, commonly called “benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome”.
Headaches.
These can occur if benzos are being abused, mainly when the body filters out excess serotonin. Benzodiazepine headaches are caused by an over-activation of pain receptors in the nervous system and a lack of dopamine. This change in the nervous system produces changes that make an individual more sensitive to pain and light.
Anorexia.
Anorexia is a severe eating disorder that can occur when an individual abuses benzos. This type of drug is commonly prescribed to treat anxiety disorders and sleep disorders. However, it is also widely abused by people looking to lose weight.
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Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptoms
Our treatment facility in Riverside, California, will examine whether patients have the highlighted withdrawal symptoms. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be difficult, but it is possible to pass through it safely and successfully. There are several essential characteristics and symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal that should be considered before starting the detox process.
- Fright attacks
- Extreme sweating
- Heart shudders
- Headache
- Disruption of sleep
- Concentration problems
- Mental health difficulties
- Anxiety
- Increased stiffness
- Psychosis
- Experiencing thoughts of committing suicide
- Yearnings
- Hallucinations
- Hand quivers
- Seizures
- Allergic reaction
- Muscular rigorousness
- Moderate variation in awareness
The Rebound Symptoms
Anxiety and insomnia are common symptoms associated with benzo detox. Some people who are receiving detox treatment for benzodiazepine addiction may experience these symptoms.
The stress of withdrawal can trigger anxiety attacks and insomnia. The symptoms are not physically caused by departing from the drug itself but rather by the mind’s reaction to it.
How Benzodiazepine Addiction is treated
Benzodiazepine detox is an essential part of the recovery process. By attending Benzo Rehab in California, you can overcome your addiction to benzodiazepines and live a happy and healthy life. Professional staff will help guide you through the detox process. Our team will teach you coping mechanisms that will allow you to live a rich, successful life free from addiction.
Some of the medicines used in the treatment of benzo addiction include:
Buspirone
This medication works in the brain to help treat specific symptoms of anxiety disorders. In particular, this medication is specifically approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). It may also be combined with other treatments to treat benzodiazepine withdrawal from drugs such as Xanax, Valium, or Klonopin.
Flumazenil
Flumazenil is a medication used to treat overdoses of sedatives. Benzodiazepines are used for insomnia, anxiety disorders, and epilepsy. Flumazenil works by stopping the effect of benzodiazepine drugs at their chemical receptors in the brain and central nervous system.
Clonidine
Clonidine is the first-line treatment for acute benzo withdrawal. This drug has a long history of use in treating hypertension and is used to relax blood vessels and the heart.
Like other centrally acting alpha 2 -stimulants, clonidine binds to imidazoline receptors. These receptors are located on presynaptic GABAergic terminals and reduce GABA release from these neurons. Although clonidine may help lessen symptoms from withdrawal, it should not be used as a replacement for medically supervised detoxification.
Typical Steps of Benzodiazepine Detox treatment
Benzo detox is a process that can take from 30 to 90 days in a treatment center. The first few weeks are the hardest, as your body and mind get used to functioning without the drug. At the same time, you will work with a doctor or addiction therapist who will help manage cravings. These professionals will also monitor patient progress in these three steps:
Step 1: Assessment
In Benzodiazepine Rehab in Riverside, California, professionals assess to determine the course of action for treatment. The therapist will determine the patient’s history, symptoms, and medical condition. Treatment options vary depending on the type, source, and amount of benzodiazepine use.
Step 2: Stabilization
Stabilization is done in treating benzodiazepine detox to help the person undergo the withdrawal symptoms. The experts at our facility work with patients to slowly reduce the amount of benzos taken. While also substituting the drug with other medications to alleviate specific symptoms while undergoing a detox. Treatment usually lasts two to four weeks.
Step 3: Preparation for Further Treatment
This step is not as complex as some may think. Typically, an individual will detox from benzos at the same time that they undergo treatment for their substance abuse.
We Can Help
At Shahida’s Place in Riverside, CA we can help you through the detox process. We understand that reaching out for help for addiction or a substance use disorder can be difficult. Our team of trained professionals is here to support you on every step of your recovery journey.
Do not wait to start living a life free from benzo addiction. Contact us today to talk to one of our team members about how we can help.