The initial step on every journey of addiction recovery is admission to a medically assisted detoxification center. Those who have been abusing drugs or alcohol for any period of time almost always undergo some degree of withdrawal upon abrupt cessation of use. More often than not, the symptoms of withdrawal will lead a person back to substance use before the detoxification process is over. This is part of the reason why entering into an inpatient benzodiazepine detox program is so important.

At Boca Detox we provide a comprehensive detox program; one that focuses on more than a safe, pain-free drug and alcohol withdrawal. In addition to providing around the clock medical care, we actively prepare our clients for the next appropriate stage of their personal recovery journeys. During benzodiazepine detox, we conduct an individualized, in-depth evaluation, which helps us determine the length of our clients stay, what kind of medical intervention is necessary, and the next step for each client once they become physically stabilized.

The Boca Detox Center Method: Benzodiazepine Detox

At Boca Detox, we take a unique approach to morphine detoxification. Whereas state-funded facilities and hospital settings offer standardized, impersonal care, we treat each of our clients on a highly individualized basis. The Boca Detox method focuses on more than physical stabilization. We work to adequately prepare our clients to take the next appropriate step on their personal journeys of addiction recovery. While medical detox is an important initial step on the road to recovery, it must be closely followed by a higher level of care in order to be truly effective. As part of the Guardian Recovery Network family, we work closely with several of the top residential rehabs and outpatient treatment programs in the country. Once you have undergone a safe, pain-free benzodiazepine withdrawal and have been deemed physically stable, we will help you determine which level of care is right for you. Contact us today to learn more about benzodiazepine withdrawal treatment options, or to get started on your own personal journey of recovery.

What is Benzodiazepine Addiction?

Benzodiazepines are most commonly prescribed for the treatment of moderate or severe anxiety-related disorders. They are also sometimes used for the treatment of insomnia or other sleep-related disorders, for the treatment of seizures and convulsions and finally, for the treatment of symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal. Research suggests that this prescription sedative is most frequently used to relieve tension and help individuals relax. It’s second most common function is helping with sleep-related issues. Unfortunately, these sedative properties often lead to misuse. Individuals who are suffering from untreated, underlying mental health issues or who have a propensity for substance abuse are more likely to misuse this specific chemical substance, and benzodiazepine misuse very often leads to addiction.

The good news is that even the most severe case of benzodiazepine addiction can be effectively treated. The first step on every road to recovery is medically monitored detox. At Boca Detox, we have designed an integrated detox program that is geared towards much more than physical stabilization. We are dedicated to setting a solid and unwavering foundation that will lend itself to lifelong recovery.

Types of Benzodiazepines

• Alprazolam (Xanax)
• Diazepam (Valium)
• Clonazepam (Klonopin)
• Temazepam (Restoril)
• Lorazepam (Ativan)
• Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
• Midazolam (Versed)
• Quazepam (Doral)
• Clorazepate (Tranxene)
• Triazolam (Halcion)
• Estazolam (Prosom)
• Flurazepam (Dalmane)
• Oxazepam (Serax)

Signs of Benzodiazepine Dependence & Misuse

If you believe you or someone you love has been suffering from a diagnosable benzodiazepine use disorder, there are several signs and symptoms to keep an eye out for. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) outlines a list of diagnostic criteria used to identify the presence of an opioid use disorder. If you answer “yes” to two or more of the following questions, seeking professional help from a medical detox center is likely a good idea.

1. Do you sometimes end up using a higher dose of benzodiazepines than you originally intended, or do you use benzodiazepines more frequently than you intend to?
2. Have you wanted to cut back on your dose or quit entirely, only to find you were unable to do so for any significant period of time?
3. Do you spend a significant amount of time obtaining benzodiazepines, using benzodiazepines and recovering from their effects?
4. Do you often think of using benzodiazepine/do you ever experience intense cravings?
5. Has your drug use interfered with your ability to fulfill personal obligations or negatively impacted your performance at work or at school?
6. Have you experienced interpersonal problems as a direct result of your benzodiazepine use?
7. Have you given up activities which were once interesting or important to you in order to engage in benzodiazepine use?
8. Have you been engaging in risk-taking activities more often than normal, like driving while under the influence of benzodiazepines or combining benzodiazepines with other substances like alcohol or opioid narcotics?
9. Do you continue to use benzodiazepines despite physical or psychological health concerns directly related to the prescription medication?
10. Have you developed a physical tolerance, meaning a higher dose is required in order for the desired effects to be achieved?
11. Do you experience withdrawal symptoms when benzodiazepine use is stopped abruptly?

If you have been taking a benzodiazepine medication for longer than two weeks, you will likely benefit from being tapered off slowly. Tapering refers to slowly decreasing your dose over the course of several weeks in order to prevent your body and central nervous system from going into shock and severe withdrawal symptoms from developing. There are several factors which will impact the severity and duration of benzodiazepine withdrawal, including:

• The severity of the substance use disorder.
• The dosage of the medication being taken on a daily basis.
• Whether or not the benzodiazepine was being combined with any other chemical substance(s).
• Physical health and mental health status.
• The age of the person undergoing withdrawal.

Are Benzodiazepine Withdrawals Fatal?

Benzodiazepine withdrawals can be fatal when left untreated — even if the medication was being used for a relatively short period of time. Research shows that around 40 percent of people who take benzodiazepines for longer than several weeks develop moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms, which can include heart palpitations and grand mal seizures. This is why entering into a medical detox program that provides 24/7 access to professional medical care is so important.

Seizures From Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

According to an article published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, “Withdrawal seizures have occurred with short, medium, and long half-life benzodiazepines, if discontinued abruptly. Withdrawal seizures usually occur in patients who have been taking these medications for long periods of time and at high doses. Seizures have also been reported with less than 15 days of use and at therapeutic dosage. Almost all the withdrawal seizures reported were grand mal seizures. The severity of seizures range from a single episode to coma and death. Benzodiazepine dose tapering can be done faster in a hospital setting in high-dose abusers, but must be done more slowly in the outpatient setting in therapeutic dosage users.” In order to prevent seizures, Boca Detox slowly tapers clients off of benzodiazepines over the course of several weeks.

A standard benzodiazepine withdrawal timeline looks like this:

• Week 1 – Many benzodiazepines have a long half-life, meaning initial withdrawal symptoms might not develop for close to one week. However, they can also develop within the first 24 hours after the final dose. These symptoms typically include increased heart rate and blood pressure and low-grade fever.
• Week 2-3 – Symptoms peak in intensity and include body tremors, nausea and vomiting, hallucinations and delusions, profuse sweating/night sweats, insomnia, agitation, severe anxiety and panic attacks, depressed mood, disorientation, and in extreme cases, grand mal seizures.
• Week 4 – After around one month, the more severe symptoms have likely subsided completely. They are replaced by symptoms of post-acute withdrawal, which might include insomnia, generalized anxiety and depressed mood.

The American Public Health Association published a study titled, “Increasing Benzodiazepine Prescriptions and Overdose Mortality in the United States, 1996–2013.” This study suggested that the amount of American adults filling prescriptions for this specific prescription sedative increased a staggering 67 percent from 1996 to 2013. There is no question about the fact that benzodiazepines are extremely habit-forming. Part of the reason why they are so addictive is that individuals who begin taking them will begin to feel the effects of withdrawal upon ceased use – even if they are taking the medication as prescribed. Benzodiazepine withdrawal is not just highly uncomfortable, it can be extremely dangerous when not carefully overseen and treated by a team of experienced medical professionals. At Boca Detox, our staff of long-term addiction field experts is composed of medical professionals, therapists, psychiatrists and support staff members who are all working towards the same common goal — to provide the highest level of quality medical detox. Not only can we safely manage all withdrawal symptoms, but we guarantee that each of our clients will stay safe, supported and comfortable.

How Will Boca Detox Center Treat Benzodiazepine Detox Symptoms?

• Addiction Assessment – Conducting an in-depth addiction assessment helps the medical team determine which detox services are going to be the most beneficial for each unique case while helping clients develop a thorough plan for continuing care. At Boca Detox we conduct a detailed assessment within several hours of admission, which includes family history of substance use, a physical evaluation and a psychological evaluation.
• Medical Care – Clients have access to professional medical care 24/7. Vitals are checked regularly, and if anything seems abnormal it will be treated accordingly. Sometimes, medications prove beneficial during the detox stage of the treatment process. We help ease the pain of withdrawal by offering individuals MAT in a comfortable, homestyle setting with expert medical and clinical staff.
• Individualized Therapy – At Boca Detox we believe in client-driven therapy, meaning that specific therapeutic goals are determined by each individual client and his or her licensed therapist in a collaborative setting. Underlying issues are resolved while the client is in treatment, however, we encourage a continuation of individual therapy once detox has concluded.
• Psychiatric Services – At Boca Detox we offer dual diagnosis treatment services for clients who have previously been diagnosed with a mental illness and for clients who are experiencing severe psychological withdrawal symptoms. Clients have access to professional psychiatric care, and they have the option of meeting one-on-one with an on-staff psychiatrist whenever they need extra assistance.
• Aftercare/Continuing Care – While in detox, our clients work closely with a team of professionals including an individual therapist and a case manager. This team works together to help clients craft detailed, strategic aftercare plans for the time following medical detox. Aftercare could include continuing treatment in a residential rehab, an intensive outpatient setting, taking up residence in a sober living home, continuing personal therapy work and/or active involvement in a recovery community.

Medication Names & Descriptions

• Anticonvulsants — Seizures are not uncommon side effects when it comes to Valium withdrawals. In the case of a seizure, our prescribing physicians prescribe an anticonvulsant to be taken for the remainder of the acute detox period.
• Clonidine — This medication can help alleviate nausea and vomiting.
• Melatonin and other non-addictive sleep aids — One of the more common symptoms associated with Valium withdrawal is insomnia, which can be quite uncomfortable when coupled with intense fatigue. Melatonin is a safe and non-habit-forming sleep aid.
• Non-addictive muscle relaxants — Medications like Gablofen and Lioresal have been repeatedly proven to reduce the overwhelming psychological benzodiazepine cravings that often lead to relapse.
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) — This specific type of antidepressant has been proven to alleviate the more disruptive psychological symptoms associated with Valium withdrawal.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers — Medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen might be used to treat symptoms like headaches, low-grade fever and general feelings of physical discomfort.

Benzodiazepine Addiction Recovery Statistics & Outlook

Medical detox will always be necessary to treat the symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal. At Boca Detox we utilize numerous proven and effective detoxification methods, including Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and tapering. Our team of medical professionals is composed of a combination of addiction specialists, prescribing physicians, and licensed therapists and psychiatrists. We provide quality clinical care in a homestyle retreat, which was carefully designed with client comfort in mind. We understand that committing to recovery can be scary, and that the anticipation of undergoing benzodiazepine withdrawal is generally much worse than the withdrawal process itself. Rest assured that you are in good hands, and our staff members all work together to make the process pain-free and efficient.

Our Simple Admissions Process

The symptoms associated with benzodiazepine withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable when left untreated. It is important to seek the care of a team of experienced medical professionals before associated symptoms peak in severity. At Boca Detox we effectively treat the symptoms associated with benzodiazepine withdrawal while providing our clients with the tools they need to continue along on their personal journeys of addiction recovery. Getting started is as simple as reaching out for help. Once you make initial contact, either through our website or over the phone, you are put in touch with one of our experienced Treatment Advisors who will answer any additional questions and walk you through our simple admissions process. We begin by conducting a brief pre-assessment, which helps our medical team determine which detox methods are the best fit for you. We offer a free, no obligation insurance benefit check and arrange local transportation to our Boca, Florida detox center. All you have to do is reach out for help, and we will take care of the rest.