Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are a set of prescription medications classified as sedatives. This class of medication is a frequently prescribed psychotropic drug used to treat mental health disorders. Benzos create a sedative or calming effect that helps treat moderate to severe mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, they are highly addictive and quickly lead to physical resistance, which means those who use the substance eventually need a higher dosage to produce the same result.
You may not need a benzo addiction treatment if you take Valium or Xanax under a doctor’s care. But patients administered this medication can quickly mishandle it or take it inappropriately or against the physician-recommended prescription. If you are seeking a form of treatment for benzo addiction, we are here to help. Contact Sierra Sage today at 833.922.2884 to learn more about addictive drug misuse and medically detox from these drugs.
Physical Effects of Benzo Addiction
There are ways to tell if you or someone you love needs treatment at a benzo rehab like Sierra Sage. Certain signs indicate a sedative use disorder, including taking the medication in a higher volume or over a longer time than what was first prescribed. It can also involve feelings of withdrawal, a buildup of tolerance, or continued use despite negative consequences at work or home.
Effects of benzo addiction look like the following:
- Headaches
- Panic attacks
- Anxiety
- Sleep issues and insomnia
- Hand tremors
Withdrawal is only one of the physical symptoms of benzo addiction. This kind of substance use can also result in:
- Muscle weakness
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Light-headedness and fainting
Chronic benzo use will eventually lead to more long-term and sometimes permanent problems. Abusing benzodiazepines can cause anxiety and insomnia, even if a clinician originally prescribed it treat those disorders. People have also developed memory problems, full-body tremors, and even eating disorders due to benzo addiction.
Since benzodiazepines are CNS (central nervous system) influencers, misuse or abuse of these drugs can result in benzo overdose. In the past few years, fatal overdoses involving benzodiazepine reached a new high, especially when users paired these pills with opioids or illegally manufactured fentanyl. Due to the increased misuse of these medications, it’s important to recognize the signs in someone with this substance use disorder.
Benzo Overdose
A majority of fatal benzodiazepine overdoses happen when the medication gets mixed with alcohol or other substances. The symptoms they may experience in case of an overdose differ depending on a few factors. For instance, how much was consumed, and how long has the person been abusing the substance? What was it mixed with, and in what method was it taken? These are all the questions you want to ask, as well as examining the individual for symptoms like:
- Difficulty breathing
- Slurred speech or vision
- Unresponsiveness or weakness
- Anxiety and agitation
- Intense drowsiness
If you are with someone experiencing these symptoms, the best thing you can do is contact emergency services as soon as possible. Under the hospital’s care, the individual can get the respiratory support and medications needed to treat an overdose. Once emergency medical attention is received, you can go about seeking a benzo rehab.
Seek Benzo Addiction Treatment at Sierra Sage
Sierra Sage specializes in co-occurring diagnoses. We treat individuals who have turned to substances like benzos to self-medicate a mental health condition. If you need more comprehensive support, consider our residential treatment program or our partial hospitalization program.
You can regain control over yourself and your environment with the help of clinical professionals. Contact Sierra Sage Recovery Services today at 833.922.2884 to medically handle the effects of benzo addiction and overcome benzo use.
