Three patients with a combination of numbness, muscle spasms and double vision were diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis. This diagnosis, and all the symptoms, disappeared soon after the patients stopped their benzodiazepines. The sleep engendered by benzodiazepines, though it may seem refreshing at first, is not a normal sleep.
Long-Term Effects of Benzodiazepine Addiction
- With the right treatment plan—including therapy, physician-guided tapering, and outpatient care—patients can recover safely.
- If you’re predisposed to seizures, your risk of having a seizure may also increase during the withdrawal period.
- At National Addiction Specialists, we’ve made this process as accessible as possible through our telemedicine-based Suboxone treatment.
- The symptoms of withdrawal are the body’s response to its dependency on the substance and its sudden absence from the system.
- Individuals may find themselves neglecting responsibilities or isolating from social activities due to their condition.
These symptoms happen because your brain and body need time to readjust to functioning without the substance. Therapists and support groups offer essential guidance during this challenging time. They provide not only emotional support but also practical strategies for managing withdrawal symptoms, ensuring individuals do not navigate this journey alone.
The Benefits of Personalized Treatment Plans in Luxury Detox Programs
Another common sign of benzodiazepine withdrawal is insomnia and sleep disturbances. This can be a particularly frustrating symptom to deal with, as it can lead to a vicious cycle of fatigue and anxiety. When tapering off benzodiazepines, you’ll always want to work with a trained healthcare professional who can monitor you for side effects and adjust your pace accordingly. In addition to the immediate health risk, benzodiazepine withdrawal can seriously affect your quality of life. If you want to stop taking benzodiazepines after consistent long-term use, your doctor can help you gradually taper off your medication. Tapering can help take the edge off withdrawal symptoms like tremors and nausea, though it may not prevent withdrawal symptoms entirely.
The necessity of a medically supervised environment
- When the CNS is sedated, the individual will feel cognitive and physical effects.
- These medications can help to reduce headaches and muscle pain, which are common physical symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal.
- This is because the brain has become accustomed to the presence of benzodiazepines and has adjusted its activity accordingly.
- Other features of chronic alcohol use disorder include ascites, hepatosplenomegaly, and melena.
For short-acting benzodiazepines, symptoms start in 1-2 days and last 2-4+ weeks. Detox begins with a thorough medical evaluation to assess an individual’s level of dependence, general health, and co-occurring conditions. This step is essential for personalizing the detox process to meet specific needs. Healthcare providers typically develop a tapering schedule to slowly decrease the benzodiazepine dosage, reducing the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, alternative medications may be introduced to ease the transition.
Apart from their therapeutic effects in depression and anxiety, some antidepressants have a sedative effect which patients who are particularly plagued with insomnia have found helpful. Low doses (10-50mg) of amitriptyline (Elavil) or doxepin (Sinequan) are remarkably effective in promoting sleep if taken at bed-time. These can be taken for short periods of a few weeks and stopped by reducing the dosage stepwise or taking the drug every other night. Withdrawal is not a problem when small doses are taken for short periods or intermittently. ” This question is sometimes asked by people embarking signs of benzodiazepine withdrawal on a benzodiazepine tapering program.
Continuing Education Activity
A specialized treatment team can closely monitor the individual for signs of suicidal thoughts or seizures, which can occur during detox. While not always life-threatening, benzodiazepine withdrawal can become dangerous, especially if the drug is stopped suddenly after long-term use. Severe complications, alcoholism treatment such as seizures, psychosis, or cardiovascular distress, can also occur without proper medical guidance.