Prescription medications called benzodiazepines have a calming effect. They are addictive and can cause a wide range of side effects. Tolerance to benzodiazepines is eventually developed. To achieve the desired sensation, drug addicts will increase the dosage.
Withdrawal symptoms can be caused by reducing the usual dosage or stopping abuse. However, withdrawal from benzodiazepines can be dangerous. This is in contrast to withdrawal symptoms that are associated with other drugs. Seizures is one of the symptoms. As such, medical benzodiazepines detox should be under the guidance of an experienced doctor in a setup.
Prescription Meds : Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines include prescription tranquilizers. These anxiolytics can be used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorder.
Doctors may prescribe benzodiazepines to treat insomnia, muscle relaxation, or treatment for alcohol abuse. Benzodiazepines include Xanax and Librium as well as Valium, Nilavam (ativan), Klonopin, and Valium.
Symptoms and Treatments for Benzodiazepine Addiction
Their potential abuse risk is increased by the sedative effects and habit-forming nature of benzodiazepines. Because benzodiazepines can be prescribed medications, some people develop dependence or addiction after taking them for legitimate reasons. However, benzodiazepines can be used as directed by a doctor.
The medical community uses many terms to describe benzodiazepine addiction. These terms include anxiolytics, sedatives, and hypnotic disorders.
Many people who abuse benzodiazepines experience blurred vision, drowsiness, and poor judgement. Addicts will go to great lengths to find a doctor who can prescribe benzodiazepines. They may even ask their family and friends if they have any to share. These people may even be able to sell or obtain their drugs from the streets.
Additional risks exist when you buy from street vendors. If they don’t have the tranquilizer, they can offer alternatives. They may also offer dangerous drugs or cause abuse of multiple drugs. You should not take anything you find on the streets.
Doctor shopping may involve getting the same prescription from multiple doctors and refilling bottles at different pharmacies. Multiple prescriptions of the same drug can reveal that it was purchased from different pharmacies at once.
A person can do whatever it takes to ensure that they have enough drug supply at home. They can borrow money from family and friends, drain bank accounts and sell household goods to get the funds.
It is possible that your loved one suffering from sedative dependence neglects personal hygiene. They don’t seem to care and start looking disorganized. They also become unusually secretive about their day and are dishonest about their substance abuse.
Addicts will often take risks such as driving under the influence, combining benzodiazepines and other substances. They may have difficulty breathing and are unable to defend themselves against an attack. Overdosing on alcohol can lead to death in the most serious cases.
Other symptoms are:
Longer use of the sedative than was previously planned
Anorexia
Memory problems
Headaches
Tremors
When the drug is not in your system, intense cravings for it
It takes a lot of time to acquire, take, and recover from the effects.
Performance problems at work, school, and sports
Although withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous, benzodiazepines are not likely to cause death if they aren’t combined with alcohol. People suffering from sedative addiction should be weaned off the drug. This can be done by a medically monitored detox.
