Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that can treat conditions such as seizures, anxiety, and panic attacks. These are often given to patients when other options don’t work. If you feel that you or someone you love is now relying on or addicted to benzodiazepines, even with a legitimate prescription, consider reaching out for addiction treatment. The dangers of prescription benzos shouldn’t be ignored. In fact, we urge you to contact Avedis Recovery at 833.514.0579 to learn more about how we can help.
Understanding Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines affect the neurotransmitters in the brain. Furthermore, they are believed to impact the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitters, which control the activity of nerves. Calming this activity, it’s believed that settling conditions like anxiety or seizures is possible. However, there is still a risk of harm to the patient if the drugs are misused or taken over the long term.
What Conditions Require the Use of Benzodiazepines?
No conditions necessarily require benzodiazepines, but conditions that benefit from their use include:
- Insomnia
- Seizures
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Panic attacks
Benzodiazepines are also used to help with muscle relaxation, sedation before surgery, general anesthesia, and to prevent severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
Know the Risks of Prescription Benzos
The risks of prescription benzos shouldn’t be overlooked. While the dangers of benzodiazepines are lessened by taking them as directed and for shorter periods, that doesn’t mean that none exist.
Some of the side effects of prescription benzos include:
- Sedation
- Weakness
- Unsteadiness
- Dizziness
- Depression
- Aggression
- Memory impairment
- Headache
- Transient drowsiness
Benzodiazepines in any form may lead to physical dependency.
The Significant Dangers of Prescription Benzos
There are some significant dangers associated with using prescription benzodiazepines. Some of them include the risk of becoming dependent or addicted to the drug, developing a tolerance to the standard prescription dosage, and trouble stopping the medication when the time comes.
People who take benzodiazepines are at a greater risk of developing dementia or memory issues.
Finally, there is the risk of overdosing. If a person takes too many benzodiazepines, serious medical problems could occur, including death. An antidote called flumazenil (Romazicon) must be injected into the patient’s vein as soon as possible.
There is a genuine risk of withdrawal if someone suddenly stops using Benzos. In addition, the symptoms often require medical care to overcome.
The Dangers of Prescription Benzos: Withdrawal
The dangers of benzodiazepines are perhaps most obvious during withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms can be painful and upsetting. Withdrawal symptoms can lead to death in some cases, so it’s important to get medically supervised detox if you plan to stop taking benzodiazepines. Medications may be available to help with the withdrawal symptoms, or you may be placed on a taper program.
Some of the most significant risks during withdrawal include having serious seizures, getting psychotic symptoms, and going into convulsions. There is also a risk of suicidal behavior due to changes in the chemical levels in the brain.
Contact Avedis Recovery to Discuss Getting Off Benzodiazepines
If you want to stop using Benzos or know someone who would like help, it’s time to look into a treatment program. There are partial hospitalization, inpatient, and outpatient programs to help you or your loved one get through the detox phase and move on to recovery. Depending on the situation, you may need to complete detox to stop Benzo misuse, and then you may wish to look into mental health support or other treatments to prevent a relapse.
To learn more about our Tarzana and Los Angeles programs, contact us today at 833.514.0579. At Avedis Recovery, we are here to help.
