At first, taking benzodiazepines might have felt like it solved problems. It could have ended panic attacks or provided relief from insomnia. Now, you might feel like benzodiazepines have created more trouble than they’re worth. They might make you feel tired, forgetful, distant or confused. They could hold you back from the life that you want.

But how can you stop using benzodiazepines when benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms are challenging? What does benzodiazepine addiction treatment look like? You can learn the basics about ReKlame Health’s treatment here, in answers to frequently asked questions.

Find out more about benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are anxiolytic medications, or drugs that can reduce anxiety. Mental health care providers may prescribe them to people with anxiety disorders like panic disorder. Benzodiazepines are occasionally used in the treatment of insomnia and alcohol withdrawal. They are used as rescue medication for people with epilepsy.

People may use benzodiazepines without a prescription to:

• Reduce anxiety or inhibitions
• Create a pleasant or euphoric feeling
• Increase the effects of opioids or alcohol
• Come down from a stimulant high

Taking benzodiazepines for more than three to four weeks can lead to withdrawal symptoms if you quit abruptly. The risk of this can be lowered if you only take benzodiazepines for one to two weeks. Long-term use can cause you to require higher doses or to experience worse withdrawal symptoms.

What makes discontinuing benzodiazepines important?

Benzodiazepines may help you manage your anxiety, but they don’t address underlying causes of it. If you use a short-acting medication like alprazolam (Xanax), your anxiety may resurface rapidly after it wears off. Eventually, whether you use short- or long-acting medications, you may need more to create the same results. You might experience interdose withdrawal symptoms (withdrawal symptoms that emerge between scheduled doses).

If you use benzodiazepines recreationally, you may also find that achieving the same results requires more medication. You may build a physical dependence or addiction that leads to uncomfortable or dangerous withdrawal symptoms. About half of all people taking benzodiazepines can build a tolerance in four weeks.

Combining benzodiazepines with opioids, alcohol or other substances can be hazardous. Benzodiazepines and opioids both suppress the body’s central nervous system, and using both comes with serious risks. In one study following people whose doctors prescribed opioids, those who took benzodiazepines in addition to opioids had 10 times the rate of overdose deaths compared to those who took opioids alone.

Taking benzodiazepines to offset the effects of other drugs, like anxiety caused by stimulants, can cause dangerous drug interactions. It’s also not a sustainable solution to the problem. Instead of using benzodiazepines, it’s better to address the substance use.

Find out what discontinuing benzodiazepines might look like for you

Reducing and discontinuing the use of benzodiazepines may be a good choice for your mental and physical health. Even when you feel confident about your choice, benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause anxiety to resurface. It can affect your sleep, focus, memory and thinking. It can cause physical symptoms like nausea, muscle pain, burning sensations, shaking and seizures.

This means that withdrawing from benzodiazepines is difficult — but it is possible. It may be safer or easier with a professional by your side.

You can get help by:

• Looking for virtual care

Finding the right care in person can be tough, especially if you are feeling sick or exhausted with withdrawal symptoms and you don’t feel ready to leave home. Telehealth may be a better alternative. ReKlame offers virtual treatment with care teams including care navigators and psychiatric nurse practitioners.

• Finding out about insurance and costs

There may be a few administrative details for you to take care of. You may need to find a treatment provider that accepts your insurance or provides self-pay options. You might need one that works with Medicaid or Medicare. You can find insurance, self-pay, Medicaid and Medicare information for ReKlame here.

• Scheduling your first appointment

If you reach out to ReKlame, we can arrange an appointment within 48 hours. A typical initial appointment may take about 50 minutes. Together, we can learn about your current experiences with benzodiazepines and your goals in treatment. Your care navigator and psychiatric nurse practitioner can create a treatment plan to minimize withdrawal symptoms, possibly by tapering off of benzodiazepines slowly.

• Exploring additional resources

Your care navigator, a member of your team who focuses on making your journey easier, can connect you with additional resources. These may be resources within ReKlame or in your community. Plus, you can look at options for peer support, like Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, LifeRing Secular Recovery, Women for Sobriety or Refuge Recovery. You may find helpful resources through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Use this page to look for NAMI resources near you.

ReKlame offers benzodiazepine addiction treatment

You don’t have to deal with benzodiazepine dependence or addiction alone. Tapering off of benzodiazepines and managing life’s highs and lows without them may be possible, and you deserve to feel better. To begin planning treatment, contact ReKlame.

Give our care team a call today for more information, check your eligibility for free online or book an initial appointment online.