It’s common to take benzodiazepines for symptoms like anxiety and insomnia, but they can be addictive, even if you’ve been prescribed them by a doctor.
Benzos work by acting as a relaxant, but the body can become reliant on the drugs to perform basic functions.
If you’ve been taking benzos for more than four weeks, you may have developed a physical dependence, and will need to complete a benzodiazepine detox in order to stop using them.
This means allowing your body to readjust to life without them under the supervision of a doctor.
Discover how benzo detox in Birmingham can help you come off benzodiazepines safely through private rehab, NHS services, GP support or specialist addiction services.
Everyone’s addiction and situation is unique, so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
If you have a mild addiction, you may be able to detox through your GP or outpatient detox services.
If you have a more severe addiction, you might require the support of inpatient detox:
Always get medical advice from your GP or addiction specialist for a full assessment. They will be able to determine which benzo detox services in Birmingham are suitable for you.
Detoxing from benzodiazepines can cause health complications for people with severe dependence. Detoxing rapidly from benzos can result in dangerous withdrawal symptoms which can be life-threatening.
Common withdrawal symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal include:
Serious risks can include:
If you have been taking high doses of benzodiazepines for long periods of time, or you also mix benzos with alcohol, you will be more likely to experience more serious health complications when you stop.
If you experience any of these severe symptoms or you’re also using alcohol, seek medical help. NICE guidelines recommend that tapering is recommended for people with high drug use to reduce the risks of seizures. [1]
The length of benzo withdrawal varies depending on the type of benzodiazepine you’re detoxing from and whether you’re tapering off. It usually takes between 10 days to a few months.
If you’ve been taking a high dose for a long time, or if you have additional health issues, you’re more likely to experience longer-lasting symptoms.
Acute benzo withdrawal symptoms usually subside around 10-14 days after cessation, but protracted symptoms can last several months.
Professional benzodiazepine detox in Birmingham begins with an assessment of your benzo use, health and mental health. Your doctor should also assess whether you use other drugs or alcohol, whether you’ve had seizures in the past, and what your support at home looks like.
You may be recommended a tapered detox, which is a schedule where you gradually reduce your dosage of benzodiazepines over a period of weeks or months. Your plan will be tailored to your dosage, and clinically supervised.
Your options for detox include NHS and outpatient detox services in Birmingham, or private rehab. Private rehabs can offer faster care, and more support. Residential rehab may be better for you if you have a severe addiction, as you may need 24/7 medical monitoring.
Home detox may be possible if you have a mild addiction and a good home support network. This is where you continue to live at home while following the detox plan laid out by your doctor, however you may be at more risk of relapse.
Change Grow Live’s Park House Inpatient Treatment Service offer residential detoxification and stabilisation for benzodiazepines facilitated by specialist doctors and nurses as part of the West Midlands Framework.
Detox only addresses the physical dependence of your addiction, and is only one piece of the puzzle. Addiction also has a psychological element, which requires a different approach to overcome.
Relapse prevention planning, therapy and aftercare can boost your chances of getting to the root cause of your addiction, and staying sober long-term.
Private rehab can take a holistic approach to addiction which looks at all of the causes and consequences of your addiction, and support you to stay out of relapse.
Free support like peer support can also be helpful. Narcotics Anonymous Birmingham and SMART Recovery Birmingham provide online or in person meetings with other people in recovery to help you make connections and stay on the right path.
If you’ve developed a tolerance to benzodiazepines, you have cravings, or you’ve been taking more than prescribed, detox in Birmingham can help you manage coming off the drugs.
Benzo detox can be accessed by making an appointment with your GP, or reaching out to a private detox provider.
Benzo addiction can be difficult, but you can recover with the right support. Addiction is not something to be ashamed. You’ve already taken an important step in the right direction by looking at your options.
Rehab 4 Addiction can help people explore suitable detox and rehab options in Birmingham based on your needs, risk level and location.
To find out how you can start benzo detox in Birmingham, call 0800 140 4690, or +44 345 222 3508 from abroad.
Below, we outline some frequently asked questions around this important topic:
Addiction is a relapsing disorder, so it’s important to remember that it’s not failure. You can always get back on the path of recovery, so seek help as soon as possible from a doctor. Following a relapse prevention plan and engaging in aftercare or peer support can help prevent relapse.
Yes, prolonged benzodiazepine use can result in cognitive problems like poor attention span, learning and memory difficulties. These typically improve significantly after detox, and usually aren’t long-lasting.
Yes. While withdrawal can temporarily increase your anxiety, your body will adjust to normal after detox. It’s important to address your anxiety with other treatments, like therapy, or another medication to ensure you tackle the root cause.
[1] https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/benzodiazepine-z-drug-withdrawal/
