Top Rated Benzodiazepine Detox in Florida

What Are Benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines (benzos) are prescription drugs like Xanax that are often given to individuals experiencing mental health concerns. The most commonly known disorders that benzos are given for are anxiety or panic attacks. Other conditions such as epilepsy and insomnia also are treated with benzos. Benzos work to slow down the brain’s processing speed. Often at high times of anxiety, the brain begins racing with thoughts and emotions that can be challenging for the person to process. The use of benzodiazepines has helped patients regulate emotions, thoughts, and responses without turning to panic and anxiety. However, there is a dark side to benzos that patients don’t foresee occurring. When misused or used for an extended period, individuals risk becoming physically dependent and addicted to them.

There are a variety of benzodiazepines prescribed to Florida patients to treat these mental health concerns. Before using any of these prescription drugs, it is vital to understand the risks and side effects of their use. The following are the most commonly prescribed benzos:

  • Valium
  • Ativan
  • Halcion
  • Klonopin
  • Librium

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, call WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab today at 877.969.1993 to learn how we can help.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Explained

When you cease your use of benzodiazepines, you run the risk of going into a state of withdrawal. Withdrawal is when your body is trying to function without benzos when it is physically reliant on benzos to work correctly. Withdrawal symptoms during benzodiazepine detox can produce feelings of discomfort and pain if they are not managed effectively. Whether you have been prescribed benzos or misused them, it is essential to consult a medical professional before you stop using them. This is to ensure your safety and well-being as you rid your body of the chemical compounds that make up benzos like Xanax.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptoms

The withdrawal symptoms that each patient experiences during benzodiazepine detox will range from person to person, depending on their level and rate of use.

Mild symptoms that patients can experience are:

  • Headaches
  • Anxiety
  • Increased levels of tension
  • Inability to concentrate
  • The onset of panic attacks
  • Irregular heartbeat/heart palpitations
  • Muscle pain/stiffness
  • Tremors commonly felt in the hands
  • Perception changes
  • Intense drug cravings

Some symptoms are more severe than others. These often have the possibility of becoming life-threatening or a risk to your well-being. These symptoms include:

  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures
  • Suicidal ideation may increase for patients
  • Risk of psychosis

Other symptoms can include rebound anxiety and insomnia:

  • It happens to patients who began benzo use to treat their anxiety and insomnia.
  • The onset of these symptoms will often recur again, causing the “rebound” effect.
  • The previous symptoms you had felt before using benzos can resurface again.
  • Typically lasts for two to three days.

How Long Does Benzodiazepine Detox Last?

Benzodiazepine detox will typically last for up to 14 days. The height of your withdrawal symptoms is often felt within the first week. Once patients enter into drug detox, the onset of withdrawal symptoms will begin six to eight hours after the last dose of benzos. The peak of your withdrawal symptoms will come within days one to four days. Typically, your withdrawal symptoms will gradually reduce to milder symptoms that produce fewer feelings of discomfort or pain by day eight.

Why Choose a Medical Detox for Benzodiazepines?

Medical detox is a highly recommended step for Florida residents preparing to detox from benzos. Completely stopping your use of benzos can put you at high risk for severe, sometimes life-threatening symptoms. When you enter into benzodiazepine detox, our medical team will provide you with a plan to gradually taper you off benzos to reduce the risk of severe symptoms. Here, you will be under the careful supervision of nurses and physicians who will ensure your detox is done safely and slowly. While you are detoxing, you will have access to holistic treatment methods that will naturally aid in your comfortability and detox process.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Anxiety and Benzodiazepine Addiction

When you used benzodiazepines to treat your anxiety, you may have felt there was no other way to manage your anxiety symptoms. A dual diagnosis program will provide you with alternative methods to manage the anxiety that will move away from your prescription drug use. A dual diagnosis program will look at each individual concern and treat both individually. Once you have gained perspective on managing both presenting concerns effectively, you will dive deeper into how each one can affect and exacerbate the other. Contact us today to learn more about our detox options for prescription drug abuse.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.

About the Author

Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.