Drug Withdrawals

Anxiety Medication Withdrawals

Valium (diazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), Klonopin (clonazepam), and Xanax (alprazolam)

Benzodiazepines, or “benzos,” are central nervous system depressants commonly prescribed to manage a variety of conditions, including anxiety, panic disorders, muscle spasm, seizures, alcohol withdrawal, and insomnia and in some cases alcohol. Benzos have largely replaced barbiturates in recent years.

The severity of benzo withdrawals depends on the average dose being previously taken and how suddenly they are stopped. When users abruptly quit benzodiazepines after a sustained period of time, they increase their risk of severe withdrawal symptoms.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptoms

• Anxiety
• Sweating
• Panic
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Poor concentration
• Heart palpitations
• Agitation
• Nausea
• High blood pressure
• Headaches
• Tremors
• Muscle pain and stiffness
• Sensory distortions

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Management

The withdrawals from Benzodiazepines can be dangerous, especially for users with severe dependence and those with pre-existing health issues. Serious benzo withdrawal symptoms can include psychosis and seizures. Left unmanaged, withdrawal seizures could progress, be difficult to control, and potentially lethal.

Due to the potentially dangerous effects, quitting benzodiazepine use should always be done with medical supervision. Often time a slow taper method is administered over the course of a couple weeks or months: depending on the severity of use. Medications Used for Benzo Withdrawals

Secobarbital (Seconal), Amobarbital (Amytal), Butalbital (Fiorinal, Fioricet), Pentobarbital (Nembutal), Amobarbital (Amytal), Phenobarbital (Lunial), Methohexital (Brevital)

Barbituates are commonly prescribed to help with anxiety and sleep disorders. They are labeled under the class of drugs known as sedative-hypnotics. The use of barbiturates has declined since the 1970s as Benzodiazepine have largely replaced barbiturates in the medical profession. Barbituates are also extremely dangerous and withdrawing from the drug can potentially be life-threatening.

Barbiturate Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawals typically begin with tremors, difficulty sleeping, and agitation and can lead to including hallucinations, high temperature, and seizures.

• Irritability
• Sleeplessness
• Restlessness
• Seizures
• Tremors
• Hallucinations
• Fever
• Sweating
• Delirium
• Cardiovascular collapse
• Severe anxiety
• Hypotension
• Mood disorders
• Death

Barbiturate Withdrawal Management

Detoxing from barbiturates cannot be done alone or at home. Seek medical help if you have used barbituates for an extended period of time and wish to quit. Inpatient detox facilities are available near you. If you need help finding a detox, call Coalition Recovery (888) 707-2873 and speak with one of our addiction specialists. Let us find a reputable inpatient detox near you! Medications used for Barbituate Withdrawals

Other Substances

Marijuana dependence is mainly psychological, meaning much of the withdrawal symptoms associated are mental. Marijuana, unlike other commonly abused substances, is relatively safe to withdrawal from and can be done by oneself; but that is not to say the withdrawal process is easy.

Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms

• diminished appetite
• mood changes
• irritability
• sleep difficulties, including insomnia
• headaches
• loss of focus
• cravings for marijuana
• sweating, including cold sweats
• chills
• increased feelings of depression
• stomach problems

Marijuana Withdrawal Management

If deciding to stop smoking marijuana, consult your local physician first. Unlike many other substances, detoxing from marijuana is relatively safe, but talking to a clinician can be helpful for gaining some suggestions and advice.

Depending on how much an individual smokes, it could be a good idea to taper off before quitting completely. This can lower the withdrawal effects associated. If a person only smokes occasionally, the withdrawal symptoms will be minor to non-existent.

When quitting marijuana, individuals will not need a detox, but they can lessen their withdrawal symptoms by keeping the body running at its peak performance. Do things like:

• Staying hydrated and drinking more water than usual.
• Eat healthily and try to ingest foods rich in nutrients and antioxidants.
• Exercise. Staying active can help boost mood and counteract many of the withdrawal symptoms of marijuana.
• Sweat. Exercising helps, but sweating in a sauna can help the body detox naturally from the THC in the system and can alleviate symptoms sooner.

While quitting from marijuana may not be life-threatening, the withdrawal symptoms and cravings can be very intense making it extremely difficult to detox alone. Because much of marijuana addiction and dependence is psychological it is important to find a support system that can hold accountability.

sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva, Brisdelle), fluvoxamine (Luvox)

desvenlafaxine (Pristiq, Khedezla), duloxetine (Cymbalta), levomilnacipran (Fetzima), venlafaxine (Effexor XR)

Individuals should never quit their anti-depressant medication “cold turkey.” The purpose of these drugs is to restore the chemical balance back to the brain that was irregular during the depressive state. Individuals who have been on anti-depressant medication for over a year can have intense withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms, although very unpleasant, are not fatal but always consult your doctor before quitting the medication. Often times they will administer a taper and wean the medication off safe and slow. Due to the taper method of detox, the process typically takes longer than a standard detox from alcohol or opioids: from 1 week to two months. When detoxing at a rehab facility or detox center, your doctor continually monitors your health and progress.

Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms

• Fever
• Headaches
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Vivid dreams
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Panic attacks
• Lightheadedness
• Tremors
• Anxiety
• Hallucinations
• Suicidal thoughts

More often then not, we typically deal with multiple substances. Often times alcohol and marijuana are secondary substances used to help either increase highs or balance adverse effects. The withdrawals from multiple substances can increase the difficulty in dealing with withdrawal symptoms. When dealing with the detoxification and recovery process, due to the complications of multiple drug effects, it should be left up to medical professionals on how to proceed. Users of multiple drugs are encouraged to look to medical detox institutions for advice and assistance rather than trying to deal with these matters on their own as this could potentially be life-threatening.

Please, if you are thinking about quitting or detoxing from a substance, talk to your doctor or an addiction specialist to assess the dangers of doing it alone. Unless you are detoxing from Marijuana, we recommend some sort of detox method (whether inpatient or outpatient) to safely and effectively detox the body from the unwanted substance.

Detoxing from substances it the first step to obtaining sobriety, but it shouldn’t stop there. Abstinence is possible, but statistically only effective when combined with medication, counseling and therapy. Call coalition Recovery today (888) 707-2873 to speak with an addiction specialist and create a specialized program designed to help you obtain long and lasting sobriety. Don’t wait – Help is only a call away!