Prescription drugs for anxiety, insomnia, and stress are increasingly common. Benzos, also known as benzodiazepine, is a class of drugs designed for short-term relief for anxiety and trouble sleeping. Nearly 50 million prescriptions for benzos are filled each year in the United States for muscle tension and major life stressors like sudden grief and loss. They are a prevalent choice among doctors for short-term treatment. Unfortunately, because benzos are commonly prescribed for multiple symptoms, they are frequently abused. Most symptoms relieved by benzos don’t resolve in a few weeks. Benzo abuse can quickly lead to addiction. For those seeking a benzodiazepine addiction treatment program, we can help.
If you or someone in your life needs benzo addiction treatment, call Baltimore Detox Center today to learn more about our intimate treatment center. Reach us at [Direct] for more information.
How Do Benzos Work?
Benzodiazepines are synthetic drugs made in a lab. They slow down the brain’s processing speed. This effect can relax muscles, help people sleep, relieve stress, and make people feel calm. Like other prescription drugs, benzos work by altering a person’s brain chemistry. Benzos increase GABA, a naturally occurring chemical that calms the nervous system. Benzos flood the brain with higher levels of GABA than the body can naturally make on its own. Over time, this decreases natural levels of GABA. Benzos also raise dopamine levels, the natural chemical that causes joy and euphoria. When a person takes benzos for more than a few weeks at a time, their brain may stop making GABA and dopamine. This can cause withdrawal, addiction, depression, and a host of other symptoms if they try to stop taking the drug.
Common Names for Benzodiazepine
There are several drug names for benzos. Popular prescriptions include:
- Klonopin is a medication that doctors prescribe for panic disorders and epileptic seizures.
- Restoril is available for patients with insomnia.
- Ativan treats panic disorders and co-occurring depression.
- Librium is available in MAT programs to treat people detoxing from alcohol. It can also treat anxiety and tremors.
- Valium is a medication for muscle spasms, seizures, and anxiety.
- Xanax is a common prescription for panic disorders and anxiety.
- Dalmane is used to treat insomnia.
These common benzos can help patients recover from their associated disorders. However, their euphoric effects easily lead to benzo abuse.
Signs of Benzo Addiction
The most common sign of benzo addiction is withdrawal. When a person stops taking benzos, the brain and body go through a series of physical and mental symptoms that encourage someone to take more benzos. Willpower has little effect on withdrawal. It can be challenging to resist taking more benzos or other drugs during withdrawal. If someone takes benzos longer than a couple of weeks, they may suffer long-term effects, including:
- Difficulty completing simple tasks
- Trouble understanding the world around them
- Not understanding objects
- Disorientation
- Speech and language challenges
- Difficulty following a conversation
Often, when a person stops taking benzos, their original symptoms return and worsen. They may experience hallucinations, night terrors, and worsened insomnia. This can make them a danger to themselves and others. Benzo addiction treatment programs are a safe and effective way to detox from benzos and receive treatment for co-occurring disorders with medical and psychiatric support.
Benzo Addiction Treatment At Baltimore Detox Center
Benzos are so common that they may seem harmless. While they may work, their harmful effects and addictive nature may not be worth it. If you or someone you love is struggling with benzodiazepine, Baltimore Detox Center can help. Our residential Baltimore-based clinic treats addiction and co-occurring disorders with medically assisted detox and various types of therapy. As the second free-standing detox center in Baltimore, our programs can help you recover. Call us at [Direct] to learn more about our benzo addiction treatment programs for men and women today.
