Benzodiazepines are drugs that are often prescribed to reduce anxiety, prevent panic disorders and as a remedy for insomnia. However, Benzos are highly addictive and if someone has developed a dependence on them, the detox process can be more complicated than for other types of drugs. The main issues is that when someone becomes addicted to Benzos, withdrawal often produces the polar opposite effects, actually heightening their anxiety further and this is a big reason behind many addicts choosing not to seek professional addiction treatment.
Detox is the first step in drug addiction treatment and one that many people with addiction issues find overwhelming. Much of the fear of detox originates from how it is represented by the media as an extremely painful and unpleasant experience. Although it is fair to say withdrawal symptoms can be very distressing, when attending a detox program in a specialist facility, there is always medical staff on hand to make those symptoms less uncomfortable.
Because it takes longer to withdraw from Benzos than for other drugs, they are one of the most difficult to detox, proving particularly challenging for the patient too. There are some important factors to consider with Benzo withdrawal that make it more beneficial for people to seek medical supervision through the process.
A long withdrawal: For the majority of people detoxing from Benzos, it can take more than a few days to eliminate the substance and its influence from the body and mind. For example, drugs like Xanax are short-acting and so the withdrawal phase is relatively short at around 7 days. Conversely, a long-acting Benzodiazepine like Valium can cause withdrawal to extend to as much as 90 days.
Slow, tapering detox is recommended: Although it seems like the logical thing to just stop using in order to detox the body, with Benzos things aren’t quite that straightforward. Because Benzodiazepine withdrawal creates the polar opposite symptoms to the anxiety it is generally prescribed to reduce, stopping and going cold turkey can be excruciatingly painful in most cases. Tapering off a Benzo drug usually involves being prescribed increasingly small doses over time or prescribing a different type of medication and is considered the most effective method of detox in these cases.
Certain foods should be avoided: Some foods and food items can exacerbate withdrawal symptoms, making detox much more uncomfortable for someone addicted to Benzos. The types of foods to avoid include alcohol, caffeine, artificial sugars or additives and monosodium glutamate (MSG).
Get Professional Benzodiazepine Addiction Rehab in Orange County at Casa Recovery
We have a wealth of information and expertise on Benzodiazepine detox to share at our rehabilitation center in San Juan Capistrano, CA, and can get you in contact with the right-center if detox is needed. We offer a wide range of therapies and treatments after detox to help people with addiction issues find their way to a brighter, healthier future. If you want to find out more about our treatment and recovery process, contact us in confidence at Casa Recovery today for effective Benzodiazepine addiction rehabilitation in Southern California.