Benzos, short for benzodiazepines, are a class of sedative drugs. Using them provides a calming, relaxing effect. They are most often used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. These sedtives also have some application in addressing alcohol use disorder during withdrawal. They are also potentially addictive if misused. They are responsible for a large portion of the prescription drug epidemic in the United States.
Paying attention to benzo addiction symptoms can be critical for getting yourself or a loved one timely help if benzo use starts to verge on abuse. Learn about benzo addiction treatment in Laguna Beach by calling Oceanfront Recovery at 877.296.7477. We help people find the path to lasting recovery and sobriety.
What Is Benzo Addiction?
Benzo addiction is when someone compulsively uses benzos outside of prescription guidelines to produce a high. People may also use benzos to self-medicate and cope with pain, stress, or trauma. In some cases, even taking the drug according to a doctor’s orders can lead to physical dependence and addiction. Benzo addiction may or may not start out with a valid benzo prescription. It is possible for someone with a prescription to begin misusing benzos by taking too much at a time or taking too many doses per day. Someone without a prescription may start taking them because they like how they make them feel. Either scenario would be classified as benzo abuse that could lead to a benzo addiction.
It is common for people with a Benzo addiction to experience withdrawal symptoms either between instances of use or when they try to quit. Common withdrawal symptoms related to benzo addiction include:
- Muscle pain and cramps
- Sweating
- Tremors
- Anxiety
Seizures, loss of consciousness, and suicidal ideation are also potential withdrawal symptoms in severe cases.
Benzo Addiction Symptoms
There are numerous benzo addiction symptoms that you can watch out for. They tend to fall into two categories: physical signs and psychological signs. Both categories are explored in more detail below.
Physical Signs of Benzo Addiction
Physical signs are perhaps the easiest way to tell if someone has been abusing benzos. For starters, people who take benzos at the recommended prescription level will not display these signs. If they do experience any side effects, they will be mild in nature. Meanwhile, abusing benzos often produces physical symptoms like slurred speech, drowsiness, impaired coordination, dizziness, and suppressed appetite.
Psychological Signs of Benzo Addiction
Psychological signs of benzo addiction may not be as obvious as physical signs. At least not at first. Recall that benzos are meant to produce a calm, relaxed feeling. People who abuse them will still experience that when they take benzos. However, in between uses they are likely to not seem very calm or relaxed. Instead, they may display the following:
- Manic swings in mood
- An inability to focus on simple tasks
- Irritability
- Forgetfulness.
While not necessarily a distinct category on its own, another thing to look out for is risky behavior. People who struggle with addiction can have their lives consumed by drug use. This can often lead to dangerous or illegal behavior as they are compelled to seek and use drugs. Possible behaviors to look for include being secretive or lying about their drug use, doctor shopping to get multiple prescriptions, and petty theft to financially support their habit.
Combat Benzo Addiction Symptoms at Oceanfront Recovery
Have you noticed common benzo addiction symptoms in a loved one? There is hope. Your loved one could benefit from high-quality addiction treatment from a provider like Oceanfront Recovery.
Reach out to 877.296.7477 to learn more about how your loved one could benefit from benzo addiction treatment that targets the root cause of their disorder.
