A Safe Path to Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Management
New Vision is an inpatient medical stabilization & withdrawal management service for adults with drug, alcohol and related health issues. We are able to provide medically supervised benzodiazepine withdrawal management in an inpatient hospital setting.
Understanding Benzos
What Are Benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines (like Xanax, Ativan, or Valium) are medicines that help with anxiety, sleep problems, or seizures. But taking them for a long time can make your body get used to them, and stopping suddenly can make you feel very sick.
Why Treatment Helps
Trying to stop benzodiazepines on your own can be risky. In a medical detox service, trained doctors and nurses help you slowly and safely lower the medicine. They watch your symptoms, help you feel better, and keep you safe.
Benzodiazepine Use
This means taking benzodiazepines as prescribed by a doctor.
- Used short-term to help with anxiety, sleep problems, or seizures
- Taken at the right dose and for a limited time
- Does not usually cause major problems if stopped properly
- No strong cravings or need to take more
Benzodiazepine Dependency
Dependency happens when your body and brain get used to the drug and feel like they can’t function without it.
- Happens with long-term use or when taking higher doses
- Can cause tolerance (needing more for the same effect)
- Can cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop or lower the dose
- May feel like you need the medication just to feel normal
What are Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal?
-
Nausea & Vomiting
Can lead to dehydration and heart problems left untreated -
Tremors and Sweating
Indicate neurological hyperactivity -
Anxiety and Depression
Reduced motivation and risk of relapse -
Seizures
Increased neurological response, which can lead to permanent issues or death
Why Seek Treatment?
Life threatening symptoms can be prevented with medication management
New Vision ensures patients have access to appropriate aftercare coordination for ongoing support, post-discharge
Private and semi-private rooms (note: actual room style is dependent upon the individual hospital)
In many cases, same-day or next-day admissions are available
Patients are able to maintain their Methadone or Buprenorphine prescription while withdrawing from benzodiazepines
Ready to take the first step and seek treatment for benzo use?
Find a New Vision location near you.
Did You Know?
- In 2019 there were approximately 92 million benzo prescriptions in the US. The most commonly prescribed were Xanax, Ativan, and Klonopin (1)
- Women are twice as likely as men to be prescribed benzos (2)
- Older adults (65 and older) are more vulnerable to side effects and dependency, despite being prescribed them frequently for sleep and anxiety (3)
- 30.5 million people age 12 or older reported using benzos in their lifetime (4)
(2) Olfson, M., King, M., & Schoenbaum, M. (2015). Benzodiazepine use in the United States. JAMA Psychiatry, 72(2), 136–142. (click here for full text)
(3) American Geriatrics Society. (2015). Updated Beers Criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 63(11), 2227–2246. (click here for full text)
(4) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) detailed tables. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (click here for full text)
What To Expect: Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Process
