Benzodiazepine Addiction

What are the negative short-term and long-term effects of abusing benzos?

There are many short-term side effects that an individual can experience soon after taking a benzo, whether they take the drug one time or begin benzo abuse. One of these negative side effects is loss of memory. Because benzos act as central nervous system depressants, people who use benzos, especially those who abuse the drug, are prone to lapses in memory.

Many times they have difficulty having short-term memories transfer to long term memories. In extreme cases, an individual abusing benzos can find it impossible to remember events that took place over the course of days, weeks, or even months.

Another possible side effect of benzodiazepine abuse is extreme drowsiness and fatigue. In rare cases, benzo abuse can cause a person to be irritable and aggressive. Someone can die from the use of benzodiazepines through high doses or by combining the benzos with alcohol or other drugs that produce sedation.

One of the most detrimental negative long-term effects of benzodiazepine abuse is physical dependence. In fact, a person does not necessarily have to be “abusing” benzos in order to experience issues from long-term use of the drug. Long-term benzo substance abuse can have an adverse effect on cognitive and mental function.

What are the warning signs of someone abusing benzos?

• Forgetting periods of time (blacking out).
• Lack of interest in positive things.
• Always feeling tired and never seeming to get enough sleep.
• General lack of interest in things that used to be enjoyed.
• An inability to control the number of benzos taken.
• Having to refill prescription drugs before it is time.

What are some benzo withdrawal symptoms?

Benzo withdrawal symptoms can include both mental and physical effects. These can range from mild to severe withdrawal symptoms, and in some cases, can be life-threatening. It is important to seek professional help if you are experiencing any of these common benzo withdrawal symptoms to safely and effectively detox from benzo drug abuse.

• Tremors
• Muscle cramping
• Fatigue
• Sweating
• Vomiting
• Seizures and death (in extreme cases)
• Confusion
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Panic Attacks
• Increased aggravation
• Insomnia

How long does benzo withdrawal last?

The length of time that someone will experience withdrawal symptoms depends on the type of benzo, amount of time using the benzo, and the number of benzos used. Other drugs that may have been used along with the benzodiazepines can also affect the amount of time it takes someone to recover from benzodiazepine withdrawal.

Generally speaking, someone who is detoxing from benzos will have a longer detox process than someone detoxing from other drugs. Usually, the detox process lasts 7-10 days but can last longer for someone who is experiencing using benzos for a long period of time.

Can someone recover from benzo addiction?

Anyone can experience recovery from benzodiazepine addiction if they receive the correct treatment. Someone who is experiencing benzodiazepine addiction needs to seek medical attention and commit to a benzodiazepine addiction rehab. A combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and an intensive 12-step experience is the best-known way for someone with benzodiazepine addiction to achieve long-term abstinence from the drug. As with any addiction, many of the issues the patient experiences occur when the drug is no longer being used and the individual needs to live their life sober.

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