Detox Symptoms from Benzodiazepines: What to Expect

Benzodiazepines are physically addicting drugs that include Ativan, Xanax, and Valium. Benzodiazepine detox is the first step on the journey to recovering from your addiction. Detox is a necessary first step because before you start treatment, you must rid your body of the toxins it has received from abusing benzodiazepines. The detox stage of recovery does just that: It rids your body of all poisons so you are ready to begin your treatment in a sober state.

Benzodiazepine Detox Timeline:

There is no typical timeline for the detox process for Benzodiazepines, as the length and severity of the process depend on the exact drug addiction and the level of prior drug use. While symptoms usually start within 24 hours, they can last for a few days to a few months, depending on the severity of the case.

It is important to note that it is dangerous to stop taking Benzodiazepines abruptly once you have developed an addiction. Because of this, during your detox process, a trained nurse will administer the drug to you in incrementally lower doses over the course of a 2-3 week period until your body is able to function without the drug.

Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Detox:

Symptoms can vary depending on the type of benzo addiction and severity of the case. In general, though, the following are common symptoms of the benzo detox process:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Slurred speech
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal Pain
• Confusion
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Memory Loss
• Sweating
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Heart Palpitations
• Tremors
• Vertigo
• Sleep Disturbance
• Psychosis
• Depression

While going through your detox, it is important to stay healthy, as this will help mitigate some of the worst symptoms. Try to keep the following in mind:

• Eat Well and Stay Hydrated: Your body will go through a lot while detoxing, so it is important to stay as healthy as possible so you have the energy to fight off the withdrawal symptoms. This means eating well, drinking lots of water, and consuming lots of electrolytes.

• Prioritize Relaxation: Detoxing can be difficult, so prioritize relaxation techniques to reduce your overall stress. Examples of ways to relax yourself during detox include:
  • Practicing meditation and deep breathing
  • Taking warm showers
  • Anything that can help lower your blood pressure and keep you calm

Detox at Home with Kinkaid:

If you or your loved one needs help detoxing, please visit our In-Home Detox page to see how we can help. Kinkaid Private Nursing Care offers premium in-home services to patients looking for the best and most intensive care on the market. We only take on a few clients at a time, so we always provide specialized care to meet the needs of each client.

For more information, please visit our homepage and learn about our values and the array of services we provide. These services include home detox throughout California, as well as in-home nursing care and the coordination of a variety of at-home medical services in the Los Angeles area. We also offer at-home Covid-19 testing.