Benzodiazepine addiction treatment in Dallas

What benzodiazepines are

Benzodiazepines are medicines often prescribed for anxiety, acute stress and panic attacks. They slow brain activity. Examples include diazepam, clonazepam and alprazolam. Many people who struggle with them started with a prescription, and there is no shame in that. Dependence can build with continued use. Dependence means the body has adapted, so cutting back brings on withdrawal.

Stopping can feel frightening if these medicines have helped you. A doctor can talk through what to expect and how your anxiety will be handled. Family can help by offering rides to visits and by watching for signs of withdrawal during a taper, if the person agrees.

Why you should not stop alone

NIDA says people addicted to these medicines should not try to stop on their own. Withdrawal can be severe, and with certain medicines it can be life threatening. Stopping can also cause a rebound effect, which can include seizures.

This applies whether you have a prescription or not. If you are worried, talk to the doctor who prescribed the medicine, or to any doctor. Detox is one way to get this care.

How treatment works

NIDA says the dose should be tapered gradually under medical supervision. A taper is a step-by-step drop in dose over time. How long it takes depends on your health, the medicine and how long you have taken it. Your doctor sets the pace, and you can ask to slow it down if it feels too hard.

NIDA also says there are no FDA-approved medications for treating addiction to this group of medicines. Counseling supports the process. Cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches ways to manage worry and change patterns, has been used successfully to help people adjust to stopping benzodiazepines. Since many people first took these medicines for anxiety, ask how that will be treated too. See dual diagnosis.

Mixing with opioids or alcohol

NIDA says taking opioids with benzodiazepines, alcohol or other drugs that slow the body raises the risk of a life-threatening overdose. Tell your health care team about every substance and medicine you take.

Naloxone reverses opioids and does not reverse benzodiazepines. Still give it if opioids may be involved, and call 911. See opioids and fentanyl. The list below shows Dallas programs by detox service. It does not show which substances each one treats, so ask whether a program manages benzodiazepine tapers.