Benzodiazepine Withdrawal and Addiction Treatment in Santa Barbara, California
Safe Treatment for Benzo Withdrawal, Detox, and Addiction
Stillwater Behavioral Health Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Treatment in Santa Barbara, California offers a residential program in a luxury environment for safe and comfortable benzo addiction detox and recovery. Our private treatment facility specializes in inpatient addiction recovery and medically supervised detox for healing our residents. Our dual diagnosis program offers treatment for all addictive substances including opioids, alcohol, prescription meds, and other drugs.
Treatment for all types of addictive substances can be difficult, although benzos are especially complex due to the way they interact with the brain and the special protocols for tapering and withdrawal symptoms. The goal of benzodiazepine detox and addiction treatment at Stillwater focuses on the comprehensive care and safety of our clients and your loved ones.
Inpatient detox is mandatory for individuals with an addiction or dependence to benzos such as Klonopin, Xanax, Ativan, before transitioning to our residential addiction treatment program. Benzo withdrawal can be dangerous and should never be done without proper medical supervision.
What are Benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines are a type of medication used for treating anxiety, problems with sleep, and other mental health conditions. By interacting with GABA and other neurotransmitters in the brain, benzos are a depressant that produce a calming effect to improve mood and focus and reduce hyperactive thoughts and emotions. Benzodiazepines can work quite well for many people, but they should only be used for a short time and only as directed by a doctor. Using benzos for more than a few weeks at a time or longer can create a dependence and a rebound of symptoms. In addition, it is never recommended to completely stop taking benzodiazepines all at once after long-term use. This can lead to serious mental and physical complications and should always be tapered down rather than abruptly quitting.
Medical Uses for Benzodiazepines
There are different types of benzodiazepines, and each one has a unique onset of effect and duration. The condition being treated often determines the most effective benzo for use. Different types of benzos are generally categorized as short, intermediate, or long acting. Hypnotics are shorter acting drugs used for sleep issues, while Anxiolytics last longer and work for anxiety and similar conditions.
- Anxiety disorders and panic attacks
- Sleep disorders and insomnia
- Alcohol withdrawal treatment
- Seizure disorders and convulsions
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Surgical anesthesia
- Muscle relaxation
- Schizophrenia and psychosis
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Here are some of the most popular prescription benzodiazepines, with the commonly used brand name beginning in caps and the generic name in parentheses.
- Xanax (alprazolam)
- Librium (chlordiazepoxide)
- Valium (diazepam)
- Ativan (lorazepam)
- Klonopin (clonazepam)
- Restoril (temazepam)
- Halcion (triazolam)
- Dalmane (flurazepam)
- Tranxene (clorazepate)
- Serax (oxazepam)
- Doral (quazepam)
- Prosom (estazolam)
- Versed (midazolam)
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Benzodiazepines are Addictive
Many people wonder if benzodiazepines are addictive because they are prescribed by a doctor. Yes, benzos are addictive. They can also quickly cause a dependence and lead to complicated withdrawal issues for many people who try to stop using them. For this reason, it is always recommended that individuals should only use benzos as prescribed and only for a short time to avoid becoming dependent or experiencing withdrawal symptoms. In addition, these are powerful drugs used to treat mental health conditions and should not be abused or used recreationally in a way not prescribed.
Benzodiazepines are addictive and should only be used for a short time to manage the symptoms of a condition, and the shorter the better. Using benzos for longer than prescribed, at high doses, or mixing them with alcohol and other drugs significantly increases the risk of addiction and withdrawal. Once a person becomes dependent or addicted to Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, and similar drugs, they can experience serious physical and emotional side effects when trying to stop using them.
Unlike many other addictive substances, benzo withdrawal can be dangerous or even fatal without a proper tapering protocol, detox, and medical supervision. Benzo withdrawal and detox needs to be medically supervised by experienced psychiatrists and addictionologists who are trained in the proper methods. Detox and treatment should also be custom tailored for the unique needs of each individual.
Side Effects of Benzodiazepines
The side effects of benzodiazepines may be minimal for many people who take them as prescribed and only for occasional use when needed. For others who take them for a long period of time or in higher doses than prescribed, there is a potential for much more serious benzo side effects to occur, including addiction and withdrawal. Some side effects can develop even after short term use for certain individuals depending on the nature of the condition being treated and the presence of alcohol and other substances. It is not common for a person to overdose on benzos unless they are taken in large quantities or mixed with alcohol and certain types of drugs. One of the most ironic side effects is a rebound of symptoms for the condition being treated. An example of this would be a person who is prescribed Xanax for anxiety. For a short time, the drug helps reduce anxiety, but at some point, it can stop working and anxiety returns even when taking Xanax.
Common Benzodiazepine Side Effects
While these are some of the most common benzo side effects, each person may experience these or others depending on a variety of reasons. Factors related to the side effects include the type of medication prescribed, the dosage, length of use, condition being treated, and other physical or mental health issues. If a person experiences any of these side effects, they should contact their doctor immediately before stopping or changing the dose, because doing so could make the symptoms worse.
- Headaches
- Feeling tired or lethargic
- Confusion and trouble focusing
- Slurred speech
- Weakness in the muscles
- Tremors or shakiness
- Blurred vision
- Memory difficulties
- Anxiety or stress
- Depression and mood issues
- Low blood pressure
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Aggression
- Irritability or excitability
- Loss of sex drive
- Suicidal thoughts
- Rebound of symptoms like anxiety
- Addiction and dependence
Benzo Withdrawal Symptoms
Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can develop shortly after an individual reduces the dose or stops taking the drug altogether, and usually occur within 24 hours of the last dose. Most of the time, withdrawal symptoms should only appear for those who become dependent or addicted to a drug. Responsible, short-term users may notice other side effects that are not related to withdrawal.
Similar to the side effects mentioned above, the symptoms and severity of benzo withdrawal are often related to the specific drug being used, the dosage, length of time used, and other health issues. Stopping all at once without tapering down the dose over time can cause severe withdrawal symptoms and other health complications. Some benzos have a fast onset, compared to others that take longer to feel the effects. In addition to how quickly they work, some only last for a short time while others last much longer. This is why the side effects and withdrawal symptoms can be much different for a person prescribed Xanax when compared to a person taking Klonopin.
The side effects and symptoms of fast acting, short duration benzos might not be the same as those with slow acting, longer duration drugs. The severity and duration of Valium withdrawal symptoms can be unlike those of Klonopin. Early acute symptoms can differ from later post-acute withdrawal symptoms, and the same is true for rebound symptoms. Benzodiazepine withdrawal and detox is much more complex than most other drugs, so professional treatment is imperative for the safety and comfort of the patient. Never try to quit and detox from benzos alone or at home without medical supervision.
Stillwater Benzodiazepine Detox and Withdrawal Treatment in Santa Barbara
Benzodiazepines can be effective for many conditions when used properly. Unfortunately, misuse or prolonged use can lead to addiction and extremely uncomfortable side effects and withdrawal, even when taken as directed. Part of the reason benzos are so problematic is because many doctors who prescribe them don’t fully understand the complexities of this class of drug. This can lead to dependence and addiction and requires a unique form of treatment. Specialized addiction medicine doctors and psychiatrists have the training and expertise required to properly manage benzo withdrawal and addiction.
Our Treatment Team
The Stillwater treatment team is uniquely qualified to effectively treat benzodiazepine addiction and safely manage detox and withdrawal symptoms using recommended tapering protocols. The safety, comfort, and healing of our clients is our main priority. Our clients begin with a complete medical assessment during intake. This allows us to create an individualized treatment plan that is custom-tailored for the particular health needs of each individual.
Inpatient Detox
The first phase of treatment is usually inpatient detox that is monitored 24 hours a day by a board-certified doctor and experienced addiction therapists. The early acute phase of benzodiazepine detox commonly takes a week to 15 days, although it may vary for each individual depending on a number of factors.
During detoxification, each client is continuously monitored to provide a safe and comfortable experience.
Should the need arise, we offer Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for managing severe withdrawal symptoms under the care of a doctor. This has proven to be a safe and effective method for improving the comfort of our clients.
Residential Treatment Program
After detox has been completed, we offer a seamless transition to our luxury residential addiction treatment program. Stillwater Behavioral Health is licensed by the state of California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). In addition, we are LegitScript certified and Joint Commission Accredited, which is the Gold Standard of addiction treatment. This ensures our clients receive the highest standard of patient care and safety for addiction recovery.
Accepted Insurance
At Stillwater Behavioral Health, we are happy to work with many major insurance companies who offer out-of-network benefits, including most PPO and PPS providers. We strive to make recovery at a Santa Barbara rehabilitation center as accessible and affordable as possible. Unfortunately, we do not accept Medicare or Medicaid at this time. If you need help with the cost of addiction treatment in Santa Barbara, reach out to us for available resources.
