When someone takes a drug in a way that they shouldn’t, or worse, uses a substance that they were not prescribed, it can lead to various issues for that person’s overall well-being. For instance, a teen may steal pills from their parent’s medicine cabinet, or perhaps their parents take more a day than is prescribed. Both of these scenarios can result in the development of tolerance, dependency, addiction, and withdrawal, especially with substances like benzodiazepines. Read on to learn more about how Legacy’s Florida benzo detox program can help you heal.
What Are Benzos?
The term benzos is short for benzodiazepines, a class of depressant drugs that effectively slow down activity in a person’s brain and nervous system. The nervous system utilizes chemical and electrical signals that send messages throughout the body. Benzos tell the brain to release gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that is responsible for reducing activity in the nervous system.1
These drugs are typically employed in anxiety treatment, insomnia, and other related mental illnesses.
Common examples of benzodiazepines include:
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin)
- Clorazepate (Tranxene)
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Lorazepam (Ativan)
- Temazepam (Restoril)
As effective as these substances are at slowing down brain activity, they still present a high risk of dependency, addiction, and even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.
Benzo Withdrawal Symptoms
When a person takes a drug for a certain amount of time, their body begins to grow used to its presence to function. When that presence is removed, many bodily systems may struggle to readjust themselves, resulting in symptoms of withdrawal. The severity of these symptoms will ultimately depend on the physical and mental foundations of the user, the duration of time the drug was abused, how much was taken, and the type of drug, among other factors. The symptoms themselves can range from unpleasant to painful and even life-threatening in some cases.
Common withdrawal symptoms from benzos include:
- Anxiety
- Difficulty sleeping
- Sweating
- Inability to concentrate
- Headache
- Changes in perception
- Tremors
- Heart racing
- Hallucinations
- Psychosis
- Thoughts of suicide
- Seizures
The last four symptoms, in particular, present a serious risk to the well-being of the patient. Seizures can be fatal if not addressed in a medically monitored manner and can result in serious physical consequences. Additionally, hallucinations and psychosis can be extremely traumatizing to experience and can even lead a person to do something drastic that they usually wouldn’t do. This is what makes our Florida benzo detox program so important.
Benzo Withdrawal Treatment
It is never advised that a person attempts to withdraw from benzodiazepines alone. At-home detox presents a serious risk to the health and wellness of the user. Instead, they are encouraged to seek out treatment at our South Florida detox center, where medical professionals will monitor the state of the patient to ensure safety and comfort.
Once the patient is brought down to a stable level, they have the chance to pursue benzo addiction treatment at our Fort Lauderdale rehab. This is where the actual damaging habits are addressed, giving the patient a real chance at turning their life around for the better.
If you think that Legacy Healing Center Fort Lauderdale can help you achieve the recovery you’re after, contact us today and learn about the steps to get started.
Source
- The Cleveland Clinic – Benzodiazepines (Benzos)
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