An Addiction To Benzodiazepines And How To Get Help

 

Being addicted to benzodiazepines like Ativan or Xanax is something that you need to get help with if it's a problem for you. This can be hard if you don't know where to begin. Read this article to get the help that you need.

Know that even if you are just taking a medication that you were given by a doctor, you can still get addicted to that medication. This is especially true if you're on benzodiazepines for things like anxiety or to help you with sleep. If you notice that you cannot skip a dose or you don't feel too good, then you may have an addiction and will need help with getting off of that medication. You can ask your doctor to help you get together a plan to taper off and that should help you not experience too many withdrawal symptoms.

If you abuse a lot of these types of drugs all the time, then it can be dangerous for you to quit. You don't want to just up and quit all of a sudden and think that you'll be fine if this is something you take a lot of. There are things called DTs or delirium tremens that can make you really ill. You'll be shaky, could be hallucinating, and you may also have seizures. Untreated, this can lead to death as well. This is why you should get help with this if you suspect that you're not able to taper at all. Go to the hospital if it gets too bad for you.

In the end it's easy to see that you can get help with your addiction if you're willing to work with it as soon as possible. Make sure you take your time so that you get all of the help you need and aren't hurting yourself in the process.

Opium Substance Abuse

Opiates have been used for centuries though, in recent decades, the strength and abuse has increased. In concentrated forms, the substance becomes even more dangerous and addictive. Derivatives are often used in the medical industry, exposing people to it that would never have sought it on the streets.

When a person has one of the opiates given to them medically, it is generally prescribed for a short period of time. However, it can often be difficult for people to go through the process of withdrawing from it. This can lead them to search for it on the streets.

Once they begin to search for the substance in this manner, the regulation is gone. The addict may purchase opiates of varying strengths and can take as much of it as they can afford. This can quickly cause a downward spiral of addiction and abuse. The user will find ways to get more and more of the drug. In part, this is because the symptoms of withdrawal are so unpleasant. Excessive vomiting and bodily pain are common. The addict is likely to experience an extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

For the opium addict who wants to get clean, it is generally recommended that they enter a treatment program. These centers have a staff that is highly trained in helping people get clean. Once the substance is out of the addicts body, the treatment program will help them to explore the reasons behind the addiction.

Additionally, the staff will help the addict to develop a relapse prevention plan. By learning the triggers for use, the addict can develop strategies to handle the situations when they arise. The center will also connect them with support groups in the community where the addict can meet others who have been through similar experiences.

What Are The Risks Of Becoming Addicted To Sleeping Pills?

 

Have you ever taken sleeping pills? These medications are often prescribed to treat insomnia, stress, anxiety, phobia and other similar problems. One of the side effects of these pills is that they can cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms.

Categorizing Sleep Aids

Most sleeping pills fall under the category of sedative hypnotics, which includes benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Some benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Valium, Ativan or Librium are used to treat depression and anxiety rather than insomnia. On the other hand, barbiturates work by depressing the central nervous system and can put the patient under sedation. These drugs are mostly used to treat insomnia or for anesthesia.

Withdrawals and Side Effects

Any drug that belongs to the benzodiazepines family can be addictive. These drugs usually work great on the short term but patients are likely to experience addiction and withdrawal symptoms if the drug is taken for a long period of time. A patient is considered to be addicted if they are going through withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the medication, become tolerant to the drug and display a drug-seeking behavior when the medication is not available.

Withdrawal symptoms include depression, derealisation, depersonalisation, aches and pains, headaches, sleep disturbance and hypersensitivity. Drug-seeking behavior is uncommon but some patients display this behavior if nothing is done to help them cope with the withdrawal symptoms. The best way to treat these symptoms is to gradually reduce the dose of benzodiazepines taken by the patients so they can get used to living without the drug. If the patient was originally treated for anxiety of depression, it is best to continue the therapy until the withdrawal symptoms are gone.
Benzodiazepines are useful drugs when taken for an average of four weeks. It is possible to develop tolerance and even addiction if the drug is taken for longer, which is why it is important to have a doctor monitor the dosage and the symptoms.

Prescription Drug Abuse and Addiction Are Serious Concerns

If you or a love one has been abusing sleep medications or other prescription drugs, Touchstone Ranch Recovery Can Help:

Touchstone Ranch Recovery Center
15751 U.S. 281
Hico, TX 76457, United States
(254) 918-2009
touchstoneranch.com