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Benzodiazepines, also referred to as benzos, are sedatives used to handle mental issues like anxiety, panic attacks, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms sometimes.
Benzodiazepines can be prescribed for these conditions:
- Seizures
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Muscle relaxation
- Alcohol treatment for withdrawal
Benzodiazepines, as a result of its sedative effect, makes it prone to abuse. They are prescription drugs, but, likely, over time, a patient who started its use for medical reasons can begin to abuse it.
Benzodiazepines Effects and Abuse
As a sedative, benzodiazepines act on the CNS. It does this by binding with receptors called the GABA receptors. As a result, the brain function slows down, mental stress is relieved, and a feeling of euphoria is triggered. The bad news is, getting high on benzodiazepine can lead to serious health issues.
How Do You Know When It Has Become Abuse?
The easiest way to tell that the use of benzos is abuse is when it is taken without a doctor’s prescription or taken differently from how the doctor recommends it. If benzos are crushed, chewed, snorted or injected, then it is an abuse of the drug and can lead to lots of side effects.
These effects include:
- Confusion
- Blurred vision
- Blunted emotions
- Slurred speech
- Tremors
- Headaches
- Drowsiness
- Depression
- Sleeplessness
- Weakness in the body
- Difficulty breathing
- Headaches
- Poor motor coordination
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Low self-esteem
- Lack of good judgment
- Memory problems
Apart from this, other areas of your life could be affected when you abuse benzos. Some of these include:
- Loss of friends
- Issues with family
- Performance problems in school and at work
- Financial issues
How Does an Addiction to Benzodiazepines Develop?
Benzodiazepines are known to trigger drug dependency. Usually, two weeks is the maximum period to take benzodiazepines to avoid drug dependency. When the body is dependent on benzos, it becomes impossible to function without them, because the benzos will change your brain.
For one who has developed a dependency on benzos, going without it leads to withdrawals that may become severe.
Treating a Benzo Addiction
Just like any other drug and alcohol addiction, being addicted to benzodiazepine isn’t the end of the world. The first step to quitting safely is finding a drug treatment center that will professionally help your recovery journey.
This drug treatment center works by gradually reducing your benzo doses until you finally stop taking the drug.
Next up is addressing your reason for the addiction via what is known as talk therapy. Finding out and understanding why you began using the drug will help you through your healing process.
You will learn to feel better and healthier without external substances. You will also learn and understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
There are In-patient programs that are set up for individuals who have severe addiction levels and could use the time away from home. The individuals stay at a facility and are monitored, medically assessed and cared for by addiction professionals.
We can help you or your loved one begin your journey to self-discovery and healing once again, give us a call today!
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