By: Lakeview Health
Benzodiazepines, better known as benzos, can be useful in treating anxiety and insomnia. Taking a benzo may make you feel calm, but there is a high risk of addiction. If you have a benzo dependency, you may want to break free, but you have questions. “What are the symptoms of benzo withdrawal?” and “How long does benzo withdrawal last?” are two common questions. When you come to Lakeview Health, we walk with you through the stages of benzo withdrawal to help you overcome your addiction. Learn more by calling Lakeview today.
What Are The Symptoms of Benzo Withdrawal?
It is easy to become addicted to benzos. In as little as one month, you can start feeling withdrawal symptoms if you don’t take the medication. If you suddenly quit using benzos, 40% reported moderate or severe withdrawal symptoms, and 60% of users reported mild withdrawal symptoms. How severe these symptoms are is based on many factors, including:
- What your current dose is
- Whether you’re quitting benzos and another substance
- Other substance abuse problems
- How long you’ve been taking benzos
- Whether you use other sedating medications
- Whether you take more than one benzo
Regardless of these factors, the symptoms are similar, and may include:
- Anxiety or panic attacks
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Restlessness or problems concentrating
- Hand tremors or muscle spasms
- Muscle aches or headaches
- Sweating
- Fast breathing or heartbeat
- Feeling sick to your stomach
- Sensitivity to touch or light
- Depression
- Visual disturbances or hallucinations
- Feelings of unreality or delirium
- Seizures
How Long Does Benzo Withdrawal Last?
These symptoms may leave you wondering, how long does benzo withdrawal last? Most people agree that withdrawal happens in three main stages, which are early withdrawal, acute withdrawal, and protracted withdrawal.
The benzo withdrawal timeline is based on what type of drug you’re using. Xanax, for example, leaves your system within 8-12 hours, while Klonopin stays in your system for a few days. However, when your early withdrawal symptoms start, the symptoms that you’ve been medicating with benzos come back. Therefore, it is imperative that you seek a rehab facility, which will help you manage those symptoms.
The next part of the benzo withdrawal timeline is acute withdrawal. These symptoms will not be pleasant, but at a rehab center, you may receive medication to help you handle them. These symptoms may last somewhere between a couple of weeks and a few months.
About 10% of people who go through benzo withdrawal will have protracted withdrawal symptoms that can last a few months or perhaps years after you stop taking benzos.
Get Withdrawal Help Today
Withdrawal isn’t a pleasant process, but you don’t have to go through it alone. At Lakeview Health, we offer a variety of therapy options and treatment programs to help you manage your withdrawal symptoms. Moreover, we will give you coping mechanisms to control the problems that caused you to start using benzos in the first place. We offer:
- Nutrition therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Fitness therapy
- Yoga therapy
- Dual diagnosis treatment
When you call Lakeview, we can share more information on the question, “How long does benzo withdrawal last?” and help you overcome your benzo addiction. To learn more about our programs, contact Lakeview Health at [Direct] today. By working with us, you can start a life free of benzodiazepines.
