Benzodiazepines
What Are Benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines are tranquilizers and Valium and Xanax are representatives of this class of prescription drug.
Benzodiazepines are some of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States and doctors may prescribe a benzodiazepine for the following medical conditions:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Seizure control
- Muscle relaxation
The way that benzodiazepines work is that they act on the central nervous system to produce sedation, muscle relaxation, and lower anxiety levels.
At this time, there are 15 FDA-approved benzodiazepine-based drugs available in the U.S. and they are often classified by how long their effects last.
- Long-acting – Chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium)
- Short-acting – Alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan)
- Ultra-short acting – Midazolam (Versed), triazolam (Halcion)
Benzodiazepines are commonly abused. This abuse is partially related to the effects that they produce and also to their widespread availability. They can be chronically abused or, as seen more commonly in hospital emergency departments, intentionally or accidentally taken in overdose. Death and serious illness rarely result from benzodiazepine abuse alone; however, they are frequently taken with either alcohol or other medications. The combination of benzodiazepines and alcohol can be dangerous — and even lethal.
At normally prescribed doses, benzodiazepines relieve anxiety and insomnia while often leaving the patient sleepy or fuzzy headed. At higher doses, benzodiazepines can produce more serious side effects including:
- Slurred speech
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Weakness
- Poor coordination
- Difficulty breathing
- Coma
Despite the fact that, when prescribed by a physician, benzodiazepines have many beneficial effects, they can also lead to can lead to physical and psychological dependence and addiction.
New Life Medical Addiction Services specializes in helping patients who have become dependent on benzodiazepines. Although we don’t perform a detox, the first step that our doctors and clinicians take is to help the patient gradually wean themselves off the use of benzodiazepines to prevent withdrawal symptoms and seizures. Throughout this process, our patients will benefit from New Life’s counseling services, which will help them deal with their substance abuse and to find a path towards a life that is free of addiction.
New Life’s Counseling Services Include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps our patients understand which modes of thinking and behavior lead them to abuse substances and shows them the ways that they can change that behavior. Our counselors also teach coping skills that helps our patients manage stress and change the thoughts that cause them to want to misuse opioids.
- Individualized counseling, which focus on the life problems and stresses which could have been the trigger for their drug abuse. It can also include setting goals, talking about setbacks, and celebrating the progress a patient has made in the path to recovery.
- Group counseling is also important to the New Life process. Group counseling gives our patients a chance to learn about the difficulties and challenges others are having and how they are dealing with those situations. This can be a powerful reinforcer for a successful recovery
- Family counseling, which includes partners or spouses and other family members who are close to the patient and who are impacted by the situation. Family counseling can be a critical step in the healing process when bad or disruptive behavior has damaged family relationships.
- Peer coaching where staff members who have had their own problems with alcoholism and alcohol abuse can provide insight through their own experiences.
- Benzo Detox Near Me
If you or someone you care about is experiencing problems with the abuse of benzodiazepines or other prescription drugs and non-prescription drugs, please contact New Life today. Our caring and highly trained staff is available to talk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us today at: 856-942-3700 or send us a Text Message
