Can A Person Be Addicted to Anxiety Medication?
Anxiety medications, usually benzodiazepines, are highly addictive medications that many people end up abusing. It may be difficult, at first, to recognize the signs of addiction. Benzo addiction is a serious problem in North America. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about 30 million people take benzos every year in America. A small percentage of people who take these medications end up abusing them. Some of those people also have a substance use disorder. So, yes, you can be addicted to anxiety medication.
Anxiety Medication and Benzos Are Addictive
Every year, millions of people are prescribed benzodiazepines by doctors for a variety of mental disorders and ailments. People take drugs to help with anxiety, panic attacks, seizure disorder, and even muscle relaxation.
People who take the medication for a medical disorder may find that they enjoy the emotional feelings of relaxation and reduced inhibition. Because of these feelings, a person may start to abuse the drug to feel more of this sensation.
Most people who take anxiety medication or benzos longer-term will develop a tolerance and eventually require more of the drug to get the wanted effect. For people with a substance use disorder, this may happen more quickly because they abuse the drug.
What Anxiety Medications Are Addictive?
Some anxiety medications are taken daily and do not cause immediate feelings of calm or euphoria. Benzodiazepines, however, help give these sensations more quickly.
Benzodiazepines include the following medications:
- alprazolam (Xanax)
- chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
- diazepam (Valium)
- halazepam (Paxipam)
- lorazepam (Ativan)
- oxazepam (Serax)
- clonazepam (Klonopin)
- midazolam (Versed)
The truth is that benzos are commonly described but can be highly addictive when abused. People who try to stop using these medications cold turkey after taking them for a long time will experience withdrawal symptoms. This is why a detox period is usually required for people who abuse benzodiazepines.
Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild, such as a headache or anxiety, to severe, including seizures. Supervised detox can be critical to helping a person recover safely.
Getting Help For Benzo Addiction
If you or somebody you love is addicted to benzodiazepines, help is available. We’re here to help you recover safely and restore your peace of mind before you start the next leg of your journey. Give us a call to learn more about how we can help at US (949) 279-1376 or MX (612) 153-5726.