Long-term alcohol use and abuse can result in significant physical and psychological health challenges. The disease of addiction is without barriers. It does not see wealth, poverty, religion, or otherwise. Acknowledging a problematic relationship with alcohol and seeking help may be among the most challenging decisions you will ever make.
While detox and withdrawal can be complex, they are essential to a future free from alcohol. Because alcohol withdrawal can cause dangerous side effects, it is highly recommended that one goes through the withdrawal and detox process at a Spokane alcohol detox. Although comprehensive treatment is essential to maintaining lasting recovery, detox is the first step in recovering from alcohol addiction.
Benzodiazepines, also known as “benzos,” are depressants used in medical settings to reduce anxiety, relax muscles, and produce other sedative effects. When mixed with other sedatives, benzos can be incredibly dangerous, and they’re problematic on their own as well. Drugs in this class are prescription sedatives (tranquilizers) such as Klonopin, Valium, Ativan, and Xanax.
Providers have used benzodiazepines since the 1960s to manage symptoms of various medical and mental health conditions. Over time hundreds of different formulas have been produced; however, today, only fifteen are currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These highly addictive drugs require medical detoxification if patients are to find their sobriety. Drugs that influence the nervous system within the brain have some of the most challenging withdrawal symptoms.
Benzo use produces a range of physical and psychological symptoms. The challenge to recognizing benzodiazepine is that many symptoms of benzo addiction will also occur with proper use. For example, if someone uses a benzodiazepine as directed by their physician, they will likely experience drowsiness or dizziness. These are expected and anticipated effects of the drug itself. However, when someone is addicted to benzodiazepines, the “expected” effects of the drug will seem enhanced, and their need to use will be far beyond what is typical for normal or acceptable use.
Without treatment, ongoing benzodiazepine addiction can lead to lasting impacts on your physical and emotional health. You may experience memory problems, difficulties sleeping, headache, problems with concentration, tremors, and diet or weight changes. Benzo addiction can also cause some users new or worsening mental health problems. Depending on the severity of addiction, behaviors including drug-seeking behaviors, poor personal hygiene, mood swings, and “doctor shopping” may occur.
Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be dangerous, and stopping suddenly without medical support can lead to seizures and other serious complications. Sequoia Detox Centers in Spokane Valley, Washington, offers medically supervised benzo detox and a full continuum of care, so you can move from detox into treatment without starting over.
If you are looking for benzo addiction treatment in Washington, you may have been taking a medication such as Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, or Ativan, for anxiety, panic, or sleep, and found that you cannot stop. That is not a personal failing. Benzodiazepines cause physical dependence, and withdrawal is hard. With proper care, it can be done safely.
Benzodiazepines, often called benzos, are sedative medications prescribed for anxiety, panic disorder, insomnia, seizures, and muscle spasms. Common examples include alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan). They work by increasing a calming chemical in the brain.
They can help in the short term, but regular use can lead to tolerance and dependence, even when taken as prescribed. Some people also misuse them, taking more than directed or using them without a prescription.
Benzo treatment programs start with detox and when that is complete, move clients into an inpatient or outpatient level of care to address any remaining symptoms and help prevent relapse.
Professional medical detoxification service supports safe and effective benzo detox by mitigating any symptoms and addressing any dangers through round-the-clock medical support at our center for medical detoxification in Washington. The rest of our treatment provides several levels of care, including inpatient and outpatient programs, so you can find a level of care that best supports your needs.
We Work With Most Major PPO & HMO Insurance Providers. We Now Are Accepting Medicaid for Outpatient Treatment. Within Medicaid, we only accept Well Point.
We Are An In-Network Provider For Kaiser And Lifewise Insurance Carriers.
Signs include:
Mixing benzodiazepines with alcohol or opioids is especially dangerous and can cause slowed breathing. If someone cannot be woken or is having trouble breathing, call 911.
Benzo withdrawal can be dangerous, especially when attempted without support. Although using a benzodiazepine as part of a treatment plan is not inherently dangerous, the detox process can lead to complex symptoms that are best managed as part of a medically supervised detox program.
When you begin detoxing from benzos, you can expect to experience withdrawal symptoms within the first twenty-four hours. The duration of withdrawal will vary depending on the severity of your addiction. Other factors that impact how long detox lasts include whether you struggle with any co-occurring physical or mental health conditions that could increase your symptom severity.
Benzos work by weakening the influence of inhibitory interneurons in the brain. These neurons work to prevent too much dopamine from flooding the brain, but benzos stop these cells from doing their job, resulting in a rush of dopamine and a pleasurable feeling. This is what makes drugs like benzos so addictive but also makes them so dangerous.
When used as directed, benzodiazepine drugs typically do not cause dangerous or life-threatening effects. However, detoxing and withdrawing from benzodiazepines can, especially if you attempt to detox alone or “cold turkey.” Detoxing from benzodiazepines is safest and most successful under medical supervision in a controlled treatment environment. In a medically supervised benzo detox program, addiction treatment professionals and medical providers can ensure you can detox safely from benzodiazepines.
At a Washington detox center for benzodiazepines, our team of experienced medical and mental health professionals will continuously monitor your physical, emotional, and spiritual health throughout the detox process. Depending on your needs, they may provide medications to help reduce the intensity and severity of certain withdrawal symptoms. Completing detox in a controlled setting is beneficial not only to your health and safety but also to your ongoing treatment process.
After completing the medical detoxification process, our clients take their next step of treatment.
Benzodiazepine withdrawal can include anxiety, panic, insomnia, tremors, sweating, headaches, and in serious cases, seizures. The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that stopping benzodiazepines suddenly can be dangerous.
Because of these risks, many people need a slow, supervised taper or medical detox instead of quitting all at once. A clinician can set a plan that fits your dose, how long you have taken the medication, and your health.
Our detox program provides medical oversight while your body adjusts. The team monitors your symptoms, helps manage discomfort, and adjusts the plan as needed. Our staff care for people with complex needs, including co-occurring mental health conditions.
We are not only a detox center. After detox, many clients continue in our residential program, then step down through partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and outpatient care. That step-down path keeps you connected to the same team.
We understand how challenging it can be to know if and when you or your loved one needs help with addiction. By taking this quiz, you can get a quick assessment of some signs that may indicate whether or not you need to reach out for help.
If you use FDA approved medication to help treat an addiction to benzodiazepines, you are required to continue with your therapy. Detox services help you tackle the physical part of your addiction but therapy helps you tackle the psychological part and reduce your risk of relapse.
With our program we offer several levels of care for benzodiazepine addiction. You can start by deciding between inpatient or outpatient programs. If you are unsure which program is best, our team will offer a recommendation after your initial consultation.
Clients should consider starting with the more intense, inpatient program if:
Not all outpatient programs are designed to treat multifaceted addiction or administer more intensive medications for overlapping conditions so it is better to start with a residential program.
Clients should consider starting with a less intensive outpatient program if:
The step down approach utilizes all levels of care in such a way that you can step up or down depending on your needs so if you have already completed an intensive residential program you can step down into an outpatient program.
By beginning treatment in a Spokane detox center like Sequoia Recovery Centers, you can feel comfortable and safe transitioning into therapeutic addiction treatment care with providers you know and trust.
Many people start taking benzodiazepines for anxiety or sleep problems. When those problems come back after a taper, relapse becomes more likely. That is why treatment looks at the whole picture.
Through our dual diagnosis care, we address co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression, and trauma along with benzo dependence. Therapy can help you build skills for managing anxiety and sleep without relying on sedatives.
Treatment begins with an assessment of your history, your medication use, and your health. If you need detox, you begin with medical monitoring. If you take benzodiazepines under a prescription, we work with you on a plan, and we encourage you to involve your prescriber. Do not stop a prescribed benzodiazepine on your own.
A taper reduces the dose gradually, so the body has time to adjust. The schedule depends on which benzodiazepine you take, the dose, how long you have taken it, and your health, and clinicians may adjust the pace as symptoms appear. Some people switch to a longer-acting medication first to make the taper smoother. A taper that is too fast can bring back anxiety and cause withdrawal symptoms, while a slow, supervised one is usually more comfortable. This is why it is important to have a medical plan rather than stopping on your own.
Withdrawal can make people irritable, anxious, and exhausted. Family can help by staying calm, avoiding blame, and supporting treatment. Learn about withdrawal so you can recognize warning signs, such as confusion or a seizure, and call 911 if needed. Offer practical help with rides and meals, and encourage your loved one to keep follow-up appointments. Your steady presence matters, and our team can answer questions from families as well.
It is not recommended. Withdrawal can include seizures, so supervised detox is safer.
It varies by medication, dose, and how long you have taken it. Some people feel better in a couple of weeks, while others have symptoms for longer.
Not necessarily. Your care team recommends a level of care based on your needs, and you can step down as you progress.
Yes. Our dual diagnosis care addresses both.
If you are looking for benzo addiction treatment in Washington, contact Sequoia Detox Centers. Our team can answer your questions and explain how detox and treatment work.
