Though benzodiazepines, also known as “benzos,” have legitimate medical uses, they can cause harm to the body and mind, especially in cases of overuse or misuse. Dealing with benzo addiction can mitigate the damage this class of drugs does. For some people, recognizing the harmful effects of benzo abuse can prompt them to seek the treatment that they need, such as a benzo taper program. True Life Center can help.
What Are Benzodiazepines?
Benzos are drugs that have a sedating effect. Often, doctors may prescribe Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam), or other benzos for insomnia or anxiety. However, people often misuse these drugs to take advantage of their relaxing, hypnotic effects.
The longer someone takes benzos, the higher a chance of dependency. Also, withdrawal symptoms will more likely occur in those who take these drugs for several months than those who temporarily use them. Benzo harm reduction starts with stopping the use of these drugs on a tapered schedule to prevent problems caused by use and minimize withdrawal.
The Dangers of Benzo Use
Both short and long-term effects can occur from benzo use. For example, immediately after taking these drugs, the user will feel tired and have problems completing complex tasks. Additionally, other side effects of taking benzos include:
- Dizziness
- Slowed breathing
- Needing to take more to get the same effects
- Difficulty concentrating
- Confusion
- Overdose
If an overdose occurs, it is a medical emergency. Call 911 and tell the dispatcher that you suspect a benzo overdose. First responders should have a medication, flumazenil, to treat overdose from benzos. However, after an overdose, the person should seek benzo addiction treatment to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms.
Benzo Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawing from benzos also causes problems. Some people may experience anxiety, sleeplessness, psychosis, muscle spasms, hypersensitivity, or seizures. Professional assistance with tapering off the drug can reduce these withdrawal symptoms. Plus, when getting benzo addiction treatment, you learn methods to break from your dependence on the drugs psychologically.
Benzo Addiction Treatment
Benzo harm reduction requires addiction treatment with experts who know how to help you stop these drugs. A benzo taper program will help ease your transition to sobriety. By customizing the tapering to suit your needs, you can enjoy the best treatment possible for your case.
When you slowly taper off these drugs, you can avoid the most serious side effects of stopping cold turkey. Plus, when you eventually stop taking these medications after completing the tapering program, you can eliminate benzo harm from your life.
Since all addictions have physical and mental components, treating them requires an integrated approach. Therefore, at True Life Center, we use our unique neurobiological integration (NBI) approach to address the mental issues that plague those with addiction while promoting lifelong mental health. Components of this include various treatment programs such as:
- Acute stress disorder treatment
- Anxiety disorder treatment program
- Bipolar disorder treatment
- Depression treatment program
By combining treatment for diagnosed mental health concerns and helping you through the physical effects of benzo withdrawal, our team at True Life Center can help you to feel in control of your recovery.
Connect with True Life Center for a Unique Approach to Benzo Addiction Treatment
If you have an addiction to benzodiazepines, you need help to lower the effects of these drugs. Benzo harm extends through the withdrawal period, too. Therefore, you will need extra support to keep you on track when you quit. Contact True Life Center to find out about our treatment options for addictions, mental health issues, and more. We have several means of treating those in our program to help them overcome their addiction and reduce the harm done to their body and mind from the drugs. Start your way on a healthier path today by calling True Life Center at 866.420.1792 or completing our secure online form.
