Benzodiazepine Addiction Considered
Many people have a benzodiazepine addiction. Benzodiazepines are anxiolytics or sedatives. This type of prescription is for panic disorders, anxiety disorders and some other disorders. Some doctors will prescribe benzodiazepines for muscle relaxation and seizures, too. Unfortunately, some people develop an addiction to this medication.
How do you know if you have a benzodiazepine addiction? Keep reading to find out more about the signs of benzo dependence and other information regarding this type of addiction.
Most Common Signs of Benzo Dependence
Many doctors, therapists or other professionals will diagnose someone with benzodiazepine addiction. There is a benzo addiction diagnosis if there is a minimum of 2 out of 11 symptoms within 12 months.
The most commonly found signs of benzo dependence include the following:
- Taking benzodiazepines in a higher dosage or for longer than the doctor prescribes them
- Spending a lot of time obtaining, using and recovering from using the drug
- Experiencing benzo withdrawal symptoms when you aren’t taking the drug
- Needing more benzodiazepines to achieve the same effects you originally got from the drug
- Experiencing performance issues at school, work or home because of the medication use
If you struggle with any of these signs of benzo dependence, be sure to ask someone for help. Some programs are available to help people recover from benzodiazepine addiction.
Due to the nature of this medication, along with addiction-based chemical properties, some people abuse them. Some people need to take benzodiazepines for a medical condition. However, when a doctor prescribes this medication, they should watch their patient closely. If signs of addiction occur, the doctor should help the patient get resources to overcome their addiction.
Psychological and Physical Benzodiazepine Abuse Symptoms
You read about the common symptoms of benzodiazepine addiction. There are also psychological and physical symptoms associated with this type of addiction. Some of these symptoms include the following:
- Slurred speech
- Physical weakness
- Confusion
- Lack of motor coordination
- Blurred vision
- Making poor decisions
- Poor judgment
- Not being able to defend oneself
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Trouble breathing
- Worse anxiety
- Tremors
- Insomnia
- Anorexia
- Headaches
- Memory issues
If you experience any of these psychological or physical signs of benzodiazepine addiction, make the call to a treatment center today. Don’t keep using the medication. Continuing to abuse benzodiazepines could lead to a coma or even death from an overdose.
Behavioral Signs of Benzodiazepine Addiction
An addiction to benzodiazepines may come up over time. You may not realize you have an addiction to this drug until more symptoms occur. Substance abuse can be sneaky like that. When you feel the need to use this medication all the time, have cravings for it or experience symptoms related to addiction, it is time to get help.
In addition to the symptoms above, you may experience behavioral signs of benzo dependence or addiction. Some of these signs include the following:
- Withdrawing from your family and friends
- Not completing your obligations or attending to your responsibilities
- Fearing that you won’t get the medication anymore
- Always making sure you have a plan for when to pick up your prescription well ahead of time
- Ensuring you always have some of the medication on you all the time
- Stealing, borrowing money, draining your savings or using credit cards to pay for the medication
- Buying this drug off the streets in addition to getting a prescription from your doctor
- Continuing to find and use the drug after you no longer have a prescription for it
- Spending a lot of energy and time obtaining the drug
- Exhibiting a reduction in maintaining grooming or hygiene
- Being secretive about what you are doing
- No longer attending social events so people can’t see you are high
- Experiencing personality and mood changes
- Seeing multiple doctors so you can get a prescription for this drug
- Taking similar OTC medications when you can’t obtain this one
- Begging other people to give you some of their benzodiazepines
- Manipulating loved ones into getting a prescription for this drug so you can have it
It is important to remember that not everyone experiences all these symptoms. You might have any number of these symptoms. There may be other things you have going on with this type of addiction, as well.
In addition to these symptoms, if you are cooking, injecting or crushing benzodiazepines to get a stronger high, this signifies addiction. You can reach out to an addiction treatment center for help today. In the treatment program, you can get many services to help you overcome benzo dependence and addiction.
Handling an Addiction to Benzodiazepines
Do any of the symptoms you read here today ring a bell? Have you been experiencing one or more of these symptoms? If so, you don’t have to struggle with benzodiazepine abuse any longer? You can talk to addiction recovery professionals to get the help you need.
Handling an addiction to this drug can be challenging. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms. In addition, everyone’s addiction history, family history and other life factors are different. Individual needs are why we recommend that everyone who needs to stop taking benzodiazepines have professional help. We can get you set up in a detox center. This way, doctors can wean you off benzodiazepines safely.
You may not know if you have a benzodiazepine addiction. It is perfectly normal to be unsure. You may have been taking your medication according to the prescription label. However, this does not mean you don’t have an addiction. If you can’t stop using benzodiazepines without withdrawal symptoms, it might be time to get addiction help. With professional help, you can finally stop letting this drug take over your life. You can finally start a recovering lifestyle that suits your needs and wants.
Contact us today to start receiving treatment for benzodiazepine addiction.