Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment

Benzodiazepines, including popular brand names like Xanax and Valium, are commonly prescribed medications used to treat anxiety disorders, insomnia and other conditions. However, these drugs are also addictive, and users may get symptoms including increased tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, dependence, and difficulty with memory and concentration. Often referred to as Benzos, while they can be effective for short-term use, they should be taken with high caution and under close supervision. Understanding the risks and signs of benzodiazepine addiction is crucial in preventing and treating dangerous dependency.

You can find help for benzodiazepine addiction and successfully recover your life with the support of our team at Broadway Lodge. As a trusted addiction treatment centre in the UK since 1974, we are here to assist you or your loved ones. Contact our non-judgmental team or keep reading to learn more about how we can help you.

We’re here to listen. Contact us online or call us on 01934 812319

Benzodiazepine (Xanax & Valium) addiction: Symptoms, family & health

What are the symptoms of benzodiazepine addiction?

Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and Valium, are prescribed for anxiety and insomnia. However, long-term use of these drugs can lead to physical and psychological dependence. These symptoms manifest in various ways, including:

• Withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit
• Cravings for the drug
• Increased tolerance
• Changes in behaviour that interfere with everyday life
• Dishonesty about drug use
• Withdrawal from participation in previously enjoyable activities
• Problems in relationships
• Lack of interest in personal hygiene

It is important to recognise these signs and seek help as soon as possible to avoid potentially harmful consequences. With the right guidance and support, conquering a dependence on benzodiazepines is achievable, and you can reclaim a normal life again. Contact us online confidentially.

The health risks of benzodiazepines to you and your family

The prolonged use of benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and Valium, comes with health risks that should be taken seriously. These risks include addiction, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, respiratory depression, falls, and cognitive impairment. Because of their dependency, they can cause a host of issues to family and friends. Loved ones may feel helpless as they watch their family member struggle with addiction and experience negative changes in their personality and behaviour. To minimize these risks, it is important to use benzodiazepines only as prescribed by a doctor and to be aware of the potential symptoms of dependence or withdrawal.

What is Benzodiazepine and why is it addictive?

Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effect of a neurotransmitter in the brain that helps regulate mood and reduce anxiety. However, they can be highly addictive due to the sense of relaxation and euphoria they provide. Regular use can result in tolerance, meaning that higher doses are required to achieve the same effect. Long-term use can also result in physical dependence, making it difficult to stop taking the medication without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. It’s important to use benzodiazepines only as prescribed and to speak with a healthcare professional about the potential risks and benefits before starting treatment.

Your recovery

Medically-managed detox

You can become physically dependent to benzodiazepine drugs, where the body becomes reliant on regular use of the substance. If the substance is suddenly stopped, withdrawal symptoms can occur, which can be dangerous or even fatal. The safest way to overcome physical dependency to benzos is through an inpatient detoxification, where you will receive 24/7 care from specialist clinicians.

At Broadway Lodge, we offer medically-managed detoxification, which is considered the safest method to detox. Our dedicated team of nurses and healthcare assistants are available day and night and you will stay in a twin en-suite room in our 10-bed Gordon Beard Unit, located next to our main house. Our medical team is available around-the-clock to monitor you and they will respond quickly to any necessary changes and adjustments required, ensuring your comfort throughout the process.

The duration of a benzodiazepine detox can be difficult to predict and will differ from person to person due to the nature of the drug. Although we can admit people for a short stay for as little as two weeks, a benzodiazepine detox may take longer. We will be able to advise further at the point of assessment and once we know what you are using, how much you are using and how long you have been using it for.

You can read more information about what it will be like to detox at Broadway Lodge here.

What our clients say

“I left Broadway Lodge abstinent of any medication or drugs and gained healthy coping mechanisms to deal with my mental health issues.

Pete, former client

Your stay

Our therapeutic programme to full recovery

Detoxification will be the first step in your treatment but the psychological support and work you do on our therapeutic programme is important in order to start making change and to help you to have a long-term recovery journey. During the detox stage, your body will begin to heal and adjust to abstinence from benzos but you will also receive therapy in a small group whilst staying in the Gordon Beard Unit initially, in order to start addressing the psychological aspects of addiction. The focus is on your body’s recovery, so the therapeutic programme alongside your detox isn’t too intense at this stage. However, you will have daily group therapy, support to work on Step 1 of the 12 Steps, private sessions with a counsellor and partake in a daily afternoon session which could be an interactive and educational workshop or a therapeutic film.

Additionally, you can choose to have Auricular Acupuncture which is a safe treatment that involves inserting very fine needles into specific points on the ear to remedy any blockages in the body’s energy flow (also known as ‘chi’ or ‘qi’) in order to restore balance and trigger the body’s healing response. It promotes healing in different parts of the body and helps to calm the mind.

If you stay for more than two weeks, once you feel ready and it is safe to do so, you will transition to the main house to join up to 32 peers for the full therapeutic programme to continue your life-changing journey. While you can receive our support for any length of time between two weeks and six months, we recommend a 12 week stay as the ideal duration to gain a solid foundation to your recovery.

Find out more about what you can expect on our therapeutic programme at Broadway Lodge here.