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Benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, are less commonly talked about than other substances that can be misused. However, benzo dependence is becoming more prevalent in today’s society. Oregon Health and Science University recently coined a new diagnosis for benzo dependence: complex persistent benzodiazepine dependence, also called CPBD.
While you may not have heard the term benzo before, you have likely heard of medications such as Ativan, Xanax, and Valium. These medications became available during the 1970s to treat conditions such as:
When benzos are misused, many side effects can develop over the short and long term. Effective benzo addiction treatment can help a person overcome their benzo misuse and achieve wellness!
Benzos are part of a classification of medications known as a tranquilizer. This means benzos slow a person’s brain function. When closely monitored by a doctor, benzos can be a helpful medication for reducing anxiety or helping someone overcome insomnia. That being said, benzo misuse can lead to serious side effects. Sometimes individuals who are prescribed benzos start to take more than their recommended dose. This will result in CPBD.
Short-term benzo use can lead to the following symptoms:
Long-term benzo use can result in chronic symptoms. Oftentimes, long-term benzo use creates symptoms similar to those that caused a person to turn to benzos in the first place. These symptoms include:
Individuals who misuse benzos over a long period are at a higher risk of developing dementia. Dementia is a condition that leads to gradual memory loss and problems with language, and a decline in motor skills.
Benzo use can be a treatment for conditions such as anxiety and seizures. Benzos are sometimes given as a form of anesthesia before surgery. When used as directed and under the supervision of a doctor, benzos can be valuable treatment options. When benzos are misused, it can create problems and lead to dependence.
Benzos can cause behavioral changes when they are misused. For example, a person could struggle to control their anger. Someone misusing benzos might be more aggressive than usual. You could expect them to display hostility. Benzos can also lead to hyperactive behavior. If you have a loved one taking a prescribed benzo, they may be misusing their medication.
Because benzos are a tranquilizer and slow a person down, someone misusing benzos might seem tired a lot. This is because they do not have energy. Slurred speech, dizziness, vertigo, and nausea are some signs that a person is misusing benzos. In addition, eating may be difficult for someone misusing benzos because of reduced appetite, vomiting, and digestion issues.
When used as directed, benzos provide needed relief from conditions such as anxiety and insomnia. When misused, individuals often feel the symptoms of the conditions they were hoping to get relief from. In addition, a person’s mental health will likely worsen with benzo misuse. It is common to experience anxiety and depression when benzos are misused. In addition, some individuals have manic mood swings when using benzos. Mental confusion is also commonly experienced. Finally, it is often difficult to focus on essential tasks for someone who is misusing benzos.
Misusing benzos over a long period will create dependence. This means that a person’s body will not feel normal without the presence of the substance.. They will likely have cravings when they are unable to use benzos. Benzos withdrawal symptoms are what a person feels when they end the use of a substance they are dependent on. Often these symptoms are mild and uncomfortable, such as dizziness, loss of appetite, cramps, or headaches. However, some potential symptoms, such as delusions, paranoia, and seizures, can be more serious. For this reason, it is best to experience withdrawal symptoms in a detox center.
Treatment for benzo use disorder starts with detox. Detox is the process of going through withdrawal symptoms in a medical facility where your symptoms can be treated and you can be made more comfortable. Benzo withdrawal symptoms typically start within 24 hours of the last time a person takes a benzo. Withdrawals usually last around two weeks. However, some people experience protracted withdrawal, which means they could feel mild withdrawal symptoms for up to a year.
People often enter residential treatment after they detox. This is a highly structured environment where a person participates in therapy designed to help them address the root causes of their substance use. In residential treatment, support groups of people facing similar issues will gather to encourage one another and learn from each other. In addition, people in residential treatment receive education about recovery that will help them transition back to their lives successfully.
Outpatient treatment is often the next step after residential treatment. In outpatient treatment, a person lives at home but continues to participate in the same treatments onsite at a treatment center. Sometimes, a person who needs help in recovery but can not participate in a residential program will do all of their treatments in an outpatient setting. The same treatment options as residential treatment are usually available for those participating in outpatient treatment.
If you are interested in learning more about treatment for benzo use disorder, contact Serenity Lane at 800-543-9905. Their team of professionals can help you achieve recovery with individualized and evidence-based therapies. Call today to get started on your recovery journey!
What does benzo use do to your body?
Benzos are tranquilizers, meaning they slow everything down. When a person takes benzos as directed, it will decrease their anxiety and promote a good night’s sleep. However, when misused, benzos can have several side effects. They can cause nausea or digestive issues. They can also make a person feel overly tired or make it difficult to participate in meaningful daily activities. For these reasons, benzos should only be used as prescribed.
What do Benzos do to the brain?
Benzos are tranquilizers, and their desired effect on the brain is to reduce anxiety. However, when misused, people often find an increase in the symptoms they attempted to prevent. Depression, anxiety, and mental confusion are symptoms often present when someone misuses benzos.
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