Benzo Detox Programs in Arkansas

What is Benzo Detox?

Benzodiazepine detoxification, or benzo detox, is a short-term program to keep people safe and as comfortable as possible while they withdraw from benzos.

Benzos are a category of prescription medications that are most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders, seizures, and insomnia. Examples of frequently prescribed benzos include:

• Alprazolam (Xanax)
• Clonazepam (Klonopin)
• Diazepam (Valium)
• Lorazepam (Ativan)
• Triazolam (Halcion)

When a person takes a benzo, the drug artificially increases the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in their central nervous system (CNS). GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which means that it slows the delivery of impulses throughout the CNS. The effects of elevated GABA levels include deep relaxation, reduced anxiety, and an easing of muscle tension.

Unfortunately, these effects have also made benzos a popular drug among people who are seeking a certain type of recreational high.

According to a February 2019 study in the journal Psychiatric Services:

• 30.6 million adults in the U.S. reported using benzos in the previous 12 months.
• 25.3 million of these adults (82.7%) said they used the drugs as directed for a legitimate medical concern.
• 5.3 million (17.3%) admitted to misusing benzos in the past year.

One effect of benzo addiction is that a person’s body will begin to rely on the drug to trigger appropriate GABA production. When that person abruptly stops using benzos, this can lead to a dramatic drop in GABA and an imbalance with other neurotransmitters.

While the body struggles to resume appropriate GABA production, this imbalance can cause several painful physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. 

A January 2014 article in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reported that as many as 44% of people who use benzos for three to six weeks are likely to experience some withdrawal symptoms when they stop using the drugs. Among those who use benzos for six months or longer, the article noted, the likelihood of experiencing at least moderate withdrawal symptoms approaches 100%. 

When a person goes through withdrawal in a reputable benzo detox program, they can receive both medical and therapeutic support to safeguard their health and reduce the severity of their symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of Benzo Withdrawal

As noted in the previous section, benzo withdrawal can cause both physical and mental distress.

The impact of benzo withdrawal on the body can include:

• Headache 
• Blurred vision
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Racing heart rate
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Excessive perspiration
• Tremors or shakiness, especially in the hands
• Muscle tension
• Seizure
• Appetite loss
• Unintentional weight loss
• Insomnia

Potential cognitive and psychological symptoms of benzo withdrawal include:

• Disorientation
• Memory problems
• Brain fog
• Inability to focus or concentrate
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Panic attacks
• Depression
• Depersonalization (sense of detachment from your body and/or mind)
• Hallucinations
• Vivid nightmares
• Suicidal ideation

How Long Does It Take to Withdrawal from Benzos?

The type and intensity of a person’s benzo withdrawal symptoms can be affected by factors such as:

• How long they have been addicted to benzos
• The amount and frequency of their benzo use
• Which benzo they have been using
• If they have been through withdrawal before
• Their physical and mental health

These factors can also influence the amount of time it takes a person to get through withdrawal or complete benzo detox.

For some people, benzo withdrawal lasts a week or two. For others, the experience takes a month or two. And in severe cases, people may still experience some symptoms of benzo withdrawal more than a year after they stopped using the drug.

Benzo Withdrawal Timeline

The benzo withdrawal timeline is often divided into three phases: early, acute, and protracted.

Early withdrawal is sometimes also called immediate withdrawal. Common features of this phase include:

• For people who have been using benzos with a relatively short half-life, initial symptoms can start as early as a few hours after the first skipped dose. 
• For those who have been taking longer-acting versions of the drug, it may take a day or two before symptoms become evident.
• If a person had been using benzos for a medical or mental health reason, the first symptoms will likely include a return of the symptoms the drug had been treating.

Typical characteristics of the acute phase of benzo withdrawal include:

• Within a few days of symptom onset, the person will likely be experiencing powerful cravings as well as other types of physical and psychological distress. (See the Signs and Symptoms of Benzo Withdrawal section above for examples of what may occur during the acute phase.)
• For some people, these symptoms peak and subside within seven to 10 days. For others, the acute phase lasts for several weeks.
• In most cases, the end of the acute phase is the end of benzo withdrawal. While people may still be dealing with a few lingering effects, they should be able to function with few to no symptom-related disruptions once the acute phase has concluded.

For those who go through protracted or post-acute withdrawal, certain symptoms can persist for more than a year after the end of the acute phase.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms

Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) refers to a range of symptoms that continue to affect people long after the typical withdrawal process has ended.  This phenomenon is also sometimes referred to as protracted withdrawal syndrome (PWS).

PAWS is not unique to people who have completed benzo detox. It can also impact people who have gone through withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, and other substances.

For someone who develops PAWS after completing benzo detox, more common symptoms include:

• Anxiety and nervousness
• Low energy
• Insomnia
• Difficulty focusing and concentrating
• Increased sensitivity to light, sounds, and smells
• Memory problems
• Digestive problems

Other PAWS symptoms that have been reported by individuals who were addicted to benzos include:

• Headache
• Impaired balance
• Loss of appetite
• Sudden outbursts of crying or anger
• Muscle weakness
• Generalized achiness
• Trembling

What to Expect at our Benzo Detox in Arkansas

When you choose our benzo detox in Arkansas, you can expect:

• A safe and highly supportive environment
• A customized treatment plan based on a thorough review of your needs, goals, and preferences
• Round-the-clock care from a team of experienced and compassionate professionals
• Medication when appropriate to ease your withdrawal symptoms
• Therapy to help you manage symptoms that aren’t alleviated by medication alone
• Recommendations for appropriate follow-on treatment 
• Detailed documentation to ensure continuity of care at your follow-on program

Medications Used for Benzo Detox

One of the many benefits of beginning treatment in a benzo detox program is that you may be able to receive prescription medication to ease some of your withdrawal symptoms. 

A January 2014 study in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that a medication called flumazenil can cause “significant reduction in benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms, reduced craving, increased completion of withdrawal and reduced post detoxification relapse rates.”

A March 2018 review from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) reported that the following meds may be also helpful for people who develop various benzo withdrawal symptoms, though the authors of that review cautioned that additional research is necessary to reach a firm conclusion on their effectiveness:

• Carbamazepine
• Captodiame
• Imipramine
• Paroxetine (Paxil)
• Trazodone
• Valproate
• Tricyclic antidepressants

Does Insurance Cover Benzo Detox?

Treatment for substance use disorders (addiction) is one of ten essential benefits as defined in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This means that insurers who are subject to ACA rules are required to provide coverage for services such as benzo detox.

However, the extent of that coverage can vary depending on each person’s specific policy. When you choose to complete benzo detox in Arkansas at Time Wellness Detox, we can help you determine the full scope of your insurance coverage.

Benzo Treatment Options 

Once you have completed benzo detox in Arkansas, your next decision will be which types of follow-on programming are best for you. Your detox treatment team will help you evaluation your options, which may include:

• Residential rehab
• Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
• Outpatient treatment

Depending on your unique needs and the parameters of the program you’re in, your continued treatment for benzo addiction may include elements such as:

• Individual psychotherapy
• Group therapy 
• Family programming
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• EMDR
• Trauma therapies
• Red light therapy
• Biofeedback therapy
• Biosound therapy
• Yoga, mindfulness, and meditation
• Art therapy
• Music therapy
• Relapse prevention education
• Skills development sessions