What is benzodiazepine detoxification treatment?
Benzodiazepine detoxification treatment is a complicated process that involves the progressive withdrawal of the drug.
It is usually prolonged over time due to the severe withdrawal symptoms it causes.
Benzodiazepine is a tranquilizer that decreases neuronal excitation with an anxiolytic, hypnotic and muscle relaxant effect.
How does it work?
To avoid withdrawal syndrome, the first step to take is to stop taking benzodiazepines. It consists of withdrawing consumption progressively, very slowly and monitoring the effects of withdrawal.
In a first phase, half of the consumption of benzodiazepines is withdrawn and in a second phase it is done progressively.
What are the risks?
The main health risk derives from the withdrawal syndrome itself. Withdrawal syndrome does not always appear, since in some people it does not manifest itself.
However, in those in whom it does, the patient experiences anxiety, agitation and irritability, loss of appetite, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, among others.
The abandonment of benzodiazepines entails a very important health risk, as well as the appearance of the abstinence syndrome mentioned above.
For this reason, it is essential that the process is monitored and controlled by medical professionals.
What should the treatment include?
In addition to the necessary follow-up and control to assess the effects of the withdrawal, it is also important to have the most advanced pharmacology and psychotherapy techniques.
With all this, it will be possible to combat the neuronal modifications caused by prolonged benzodiazepine use.