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If you or someone close to you is struggling with an addiction, the dangers of benzodiazepines might not be fully appreciated. Many people initially take benzos through a prescription, and they don’t think to ask, “are benzos dangerous” because it comes from a doctor. And yet, there are many risks of benzodiazepines, particularly where addiction is concerned. Thankfully, you can get treatment if you are struggling with an addiction to benzos.
Benzos or benzodiazepines are a category of sedative medications. They include names like:
Your body naturally produces a chemical called GABA. This chemical reduces activity in the parts of your brain that control memory, reasoning, essential functions, and emotions. Under normal circumstances, your body produces GABA so you can fall asleep easily, slow your breathing and your muscular activity, and feel relaxed. People who have trouble sleeping might take over-the-counter GABA supplements to do the same thing.
Benzodiazepines increase how effective GABA is on your brain and your body. So, under normal circumstances, your body might produce a set amount that helps you relax at the end of a hard day and fall asleep, but if you are struggling with severe anxiety or insomnia, benzodiazepines make it so that these effects are amplified.
They are prescribed for things like anxiety disorders or severe insomnia. In some cases, they are used for anesthesia, sedation before surgery, muscle relaxation, nausea, alcohol withdrawal, depression, or panic attacks. When prescribed for official use, like an anesthetic, they are done so under careful medical supervision.
The amplified effects of benzodiazepines put you at risk for dizziness, unsteadiness on your feet, and weakness. But you might also experience irritability, memory problems, sleep disturbances, headaches, depression, and confusion.
The dangers of benzos extend to the way in which benzodiazepines interact with other medications.
The most severe dangers of benzodiazepines aren’t just the changes to your memory in your sleep cycle but the severe risk of addiction. If you take benzodiazepines regularly, even stopping after a few months can cause serious education, insomnia, tremors, vomiting, sweating, muscle cramps, and even seizures.
Once you know the dangers of benzos, it’s important that you get treatment for your mind and body as one, and this might include participation in 12-step programs, integrative medicine, nutritional counseling, family therapy, art therapy, and relapse prevention education.
Understanding the dangers of benzodiazepines is the first step. The next is to find a benzo treatment center you can trust. You need to feel completely safe and comfortable at whatever treatment center you choose. You need to know that they provide evidence-based services to help you overcome your addiction.
At Prevail Recovery Center, we provide a comprehensive list of treatment services that are all statistically proven to effectively help you overcome the dangers of benzodiazepines by getting rid of your addiction.
We have multiple admissions assistants who are ready to help you verify your insurance coverage, get answers to questions like “are benzos dangerous” and start the right treatment for your situation. If you also struggle with mental health disorders like depression, a common side effect of benzo abuse, we can provide dual diagnosis treatment that targets your mental health as well as your addiction in the same plan.
If you have a busy schedule, we can help you start your medical detoxification so that you can overcome the risks of benzodiazepines and their associated withdrawal symptoms. You can participate in partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or regular outpatient program at our top-rated drug rehab in Fort Lauderdale.
If you are ready to get help with your addiction, call us at 1-866-441-2455.
Prevail Recovery Center is a trusted drug & alcohol treatment program in Ft. Lauderdale, South Florida that offers individualized, evidence-based programming.
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