Benzodiazepines are depressant drugs that cause hypnosis and sedation by depressing the central nervous system (CNS). They’re commonly prescribed for conditions like anxiety, insomnia, seizure disorders, and muscular disorders. Their sedative effects can help reduce anxiety and promote sleep. Examples of benzodiazepines, or “benzos,” include Xanax, diazepam, clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), and temazepam.
Benzos typically aren’t designed for long-term use, since they’re highly addictive. They’re often meant as a short-term solution to conditions like insomnia and anxiety or as a pre-procedure sedative.
If you continue taking benzodiazepines, you’ll build a tolerance to their effects and require higher doses. Higher doses and prolonged use can lead to dependence and addiction. Treatment for benzodiazepine addiction can help you detox safely and address the core causes of addiction.
Signs and Long-Term Effects of Benzodiazepine Use
When used as prescribed, taking benzos often has few or no visible ill effects. Taking it as prescribed also prevents addiction and dependence. But improper benzo use can result in a slew of unwanted long-term effects.
Signs someone might be taking higher doses than prescribed include:
- Agitation
- Amnesia
- Extreme sleepiness
- Nightmares
- Bizarre behaviors
- Secretive about their behaviors and whereabouts
-
Sudden or surprising financial troubles
Physicians generally prescribe benzodiazepines at the lowest dose and for the shortest length of time. When taken for too long, you can become emotionally and physically dependent on benzos. Long-term effects include:
- Increased tolerance; you’ll need to take more and more to get the same effects
- Memory loss
- Personality changes
- Weight gain
- Sleeping struggles
- Addiction
Signs of a Benzodiazepine Overdose
As a central nervous system depressant, ingesting a high amount of benzos can dangerously slow your breathing and heart rate. Signs of an overdose include coma, slurred speech, shallow breathing, and death.
Call your local emergency number or 911 immediately if you suspect an overdose. If you are qualified, administer CPR. Use Naloxone (Narcan) if available.
Do Rehabs Treat Benzodiazepine Addiction?
Yes, most rehabs treat addictions to various types of benzodiazepines. Many rehabs also treat co-occurring mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression. You can find benzodiazepine treatment in many levels of care, including:
- Outpatient, where you meet once or twice a week with others in treatment and your care provider.
- Intensive outpatient, where you meet 3-5 times weekly for more intensive care.
- Partial hospitalization, where you meet 5-7 times a week for a full day, or most of one.
- Residential, where you live in a rehab center for 28+ days and engage in treatment with a community of peers and treatment providers.
- Inpatient, where you live in a treatment center or hospital and receive 24/7 monitoring. Depending on your circumstance, you may undergo detox during this stage.
- Withdrawal symptoms for benzodiazepines include headaches, vomiting, dizziness, anxiety, hallucinations, and seizures.
In each level of care, you’ll likely receive 1-1 therapy with a therapist and group therapy. The exact type of therapies used will vary based on your symptoms, medical history, age, and more. But you can expect to engage in various evidence-based therapies throughout your treatment.
What Is Dual Diagnosis: Understanding Mental Health and Benzo Addiction
A dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorder, is a mental health disorder that accompanies a substance use disorder.
Conditions like depression, anxiety, and addiction often co-occur, meaning that a person can suffer from both a mental health disorder (like depression) and a substance use disorder (addiction) at the same time.
People with mental health conditions may self-medicate with drugs or alcohol to try to manage their symptoms, which can lead to addiction. On the other hand, people with addiction may experience depression after substance use changes their brain chemistry.
People with co-occurring mental health conditions and addiction are more likely to experience more severe symptoms and have a higher risk of relapse, suicide, and other negative outcomes.
In the US, over 9 million adults have a co-occuring disorder and half of those with a serious mental disorder have co-occurring substance use disorder.
Is It Possible to Experience a Relapse?
Relapsing with benzos is possible. You can seek professional treatment to understand and treat the root causes of addiction to prevent future relapses. Most benzodiazepine treatment programs include relapse prevention planning, aftercare, and connections to additional resources, like support groups.
A relapse doesn’t mean your treatment failed. It just means you need additional help to get back into healing.
Can I Use The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for Benzodiazepine Treatment in The U.S.?
If you’ve been clinically diagnosed with addiction, then you can receive Family and Medical Leave Act support. The FMLA ensures that you do not lose your job when taking necessary time (up to 12 weeks) off to heal from a serious health condition. This act also guarantees that you retain the same terms of employment that you originally had for your job.
What’s provided in your FMLA may vary and has requirements for eligibility. Talk with your Human Resources (HR) department at work or look online for more information on FMLAs.
Questions to Ask Your Provider
Keeping a few questions in mind can help you navigate the beginnings of treatment and make it simpler to choose a provider.
- Am I considered to have an addiction to benzodiazepines?
- Will I need to undergo detox?
- What level of care do my symptoms and circumstances require?
- What kind of side effects can I expect from the medications you prescribe, if any?
- Are there any support groups or other resources I can use to help manage my addiction?
- What kind of follow-up care do you recommend?
- How can I tell if my addiction is getting worse?
- What should I do if my symptoms don’t improve?
- Are there any other mental health conditions I should be aware of?
How Can I Find Support?
- Rehabs for Benzodiazepine Addiction
- Telehealth Provider
- Talk to a supportive friend or family member
- Talk to your primary care physician