Benzodiazepine Addiction: What Are The Signs, Symptoms, Effects And Treatment Of Depressant Abuse?

Benzodiazepines have legitimate medical uses, but are also often abused. Why? What does it feel like to use benzos? What are the signs that a person has lost control over their benzodiazepine use and has become addicted — and how is an addiction treated?

What are benzodiazepines?

First introduced in the 1960s, benzodiazepines are a class of sedatives (also called depressants or tranquilizers) that has helped countless people suffering from conditions as varied as anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasms, alcohol withdrawal, and seizures. Also popularly called "benzos", you may not be familiar with their generic names — alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam, and diazepam, for instance — but have almost certainly heard references to brand names like Librium, Valium, Klonopin, and Ativan.

Benzodiazepines, which come in a range of potencies and can be administered in various ways, are prescription-only schedule IV drugs that should only ever be taken under a doctor's care — and exactly as instructed. They're also abused, however, and have an addictive potential. Benzos are especially dangerous when used in combination with either opioids or alcohol, both of which is quite common. 

What does using benzos feel like?

People who use benzodiazepines "recreationally", without a prescription, don't really do so for "fun" — rather, this kind of abuse can be considered a form of self-medication for undiagnosed mental health issues, and many who abuse benzos may have been prescribed them if they'd have gone through the proper channels.

In higher doses, benzodiapines may make you feel rather sleepy, which may be something you're after if you're also suffering from insomnia, or an unwelcome side effect. Also, our anonymous source warns, "in higher doses, after a longer period of time, you begin to forget stuff." They add: "Like I forgot Wednesday happened, and was convinced it was Tuesday even though it was Thursday." Other possible harmful effects include slowed speech, low blood pressure, dizziness and light-headedness, a dry mouth, and even slowed breathing. 

It is also possible to overdose on benzodiazepines, something that cause breathing to stop, resulting in a lack of oxygen and ultimately possibly even death. 

With prolonged use, someone who abuses benzodiazepines may need higher doses to achieve the same calming effect, and abruptly stopping use can lead to withdrawal symptoms including:

• Headaches
• Heart palpitations
• Excessive sweating
• A tremor and muscle pain
• Visual disturbances
• Sharp pain in the neck and spine
• Ringing in the ears
• Mental symptoms ranging from confusion to hallucinations
• Nausea and diarrhea
• Anxiety and insomnia that return with a vengeance

What are the signs of a benzodiazepine addiction?

Anyone who takes benzos not prescribed to them, or uses benzodiazepines that were prescribed to them more often or in higher doses, can be considered to be abusing them. You may be addicted to benzodiazepines if:

• You use benzodiazepines more often, in higher doses, or for longer than you planned to. 
• You have tried or are trying to cut down on your use or stop it, but find yourself unable to do so. 
• You spend a lot of time using benzodiazepines, trying to get benzodiazepines, or recovering from using them.
• You crave them when you're not using.
• Your use interferes with your ability to carry out important responsibilities. 
• Your use causes or contributes to social problems.
• You give up important activities, or reduce your participation, because you're using benzodiazepines. 
• You use benzodiazepines in situations where it's physically dangerous. 
• You continue to abuse benzodiazepines even though your use is harming your mental or physical health. 
• You have developed a tolerance — meaning you either need to use more to get the same effect, or the same dose no longer produces the same effect. 
• You go into withdrawal if you haven't used for a while, or continue to use benzodiazepines specifically to avoid withdrawal symptoms. 

If you recognize any of these diagnostic criteria, and especially if you tick more than a few of these boxes, you're in trouble — and it's time to seek help. 

How can a benzodiazepine addiction be treated?

Because the prolonged use of higher doses of benzodiazepines creates physical complications that put the person at risk of seizures and other withdrawal symptoms, it is important that nobody who has been taking benzos for longer than a month abruptly stops. Rather, the use should gradually be tapered off. The treating doctor should come up with an individualized plan for this. In some cases, anticonvulsants will be offered to manage withdrawal. 

Attending talk therapy at the same time — and after your withdrawal has successfully been managed — increases your chance of remaining abstinent, and will also allow you to receive treatment for the problems that have led you to use benzodiazepines.