Why are benzodiazepines used for alcohol withdrawal? In addition to easing some of the psychological distress that withdrawal can cause, benzos can also protect the health of people who experience a particularly severe set of symptoms known as the DTs.
What Are Benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines are a type of prescription medication whose effects include mild sedation, decreased anxiety, and an easing of muscle tension.
Benzos are depressants, which means they achieve these effects by slowing the delivery of messages throughout the central nervous system (CNS).
Benzo use is quite common among patients in the United States. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. pharmacies filled about 92 million prescriptions for benzos in 2019.
Five of the most commonly prescribed benzodiazepines are:
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
- Lorazepam (Ativan)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin)
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Triazolam (Halcion)
In 2020, the first four benzos listed above were among the 25 most frequently prescribed psychiatric medications in the U.S.
In addition to their use in alcohol withdrawal, benzos are also often prescribed to people who have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, insomnia, muscle spasms, and epilepsy.
Are Benzos Safe?
When a person takes prescription benzos for a legitimate medical concern, and they follow the guidance provided by their doctor or pharmacist, the medication can be both safe and effective. In cases involving the authorized and supervised use of benzos, the most common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, slowed reflexes, and muscle weakness.
The biggest risks of benzo use involve people who abuse the drugs for recreational purposes. Data collected through the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) has indicated that more than 5 million people in the U.S. abused benzodiazepines in the previous 12 months.
Benzodiazepines Used for Alcohol Withdrawal
When a person develops an alcohol addiction, their body will adapt to the presence of the drug. When they try to quit drinking, their body may react with a variety of uncomfortable and potentially dangerous alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
For most types of addiction, withdrawal symptoms may be temporarily distressing, but they don’t pose a serious health threat. Alcoholism – especially severe cases of heavy drinking over a long period – can be an exception to this rule.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Common alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
- Powerful cravings
- Headache
- Heavy sweating
- Insomnia
- Nausea and vomiting
- Shakiness
- Anxiety
- Irritability
These symptoms can set in within a day or two after a person’s last drink. They usually peak after two or three days, then begin to subside.
Delirium Tremens
In severe cases of alcoholism, withdrawal can also include a potentially life-threatening set of symptoms that are referred to collectively as delirium tremens, or the DTs. These symptoms, which can occur within 48 hours of a person’s last drink, include:
- Profound confusion and disorientation
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Agitation and aggression
- Dangerously high body temperature (hyperthermia)
- Racing heart rate (tachycardia)
- Tics and tremors
- Seizures
Researchers estimate that as many as 37% of people with the DTs could die if proper treatment were not available. Thankfully, effective professional care has increased the survivability rate of the DTs to over 95%.
Benzodiazepines used for alcohol withdrawal are crucial for helping people survive delirium tremens. In fact, experts have described benzos as “the mainstay of treatment” for the DTs and “the drug of choice” for easing alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
How Benzos Help
In a typical case of alcohol withdrawal, benzos can alleviate anxiety and help a person remain calm as their body responds to the sudden absence of alcohol
In cases that involve the DTs, benzos can play a more significant role.
The effects of long-term heavy drinking include abnormal levels of two important neurotransmitters, gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and glutamate:
- When not artificially impeded by alcohol, GABA has a natural calming effect by slowing the dissemination of messages throughout the central nervous system (CNS).
- Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter. This means that it promotes activity in the CNS. Excess glutamate has been linked with neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease.
As long as a person is drinking, the continuous presence of alcohol in their system suppresses the negative effects of the GABA and glutamate imbalances. But when they abruptly stop drinking, their body’s attempts to reestablish appropriate levels of these neurotransmitters can cause a dangerous reaction called excitotoxicity.
Benzos can help to restore a healthy balance of GABA and glutamate and minimize the risk of this reaction. Through the years, the incorporation of benzos into alcohol withdrawal treatment has been linked with a substantial decrease in the DT mortality rate.
[Recommended: “Medications Used for Drug and Alcohol Detox“]
Benefits of Detox for Alcohol Withdrawal
The safe and appropriate use of benzodiazepines and other prescription medications is just one of the many benefits of completing alcohol withdrawal in a detoxification (detox) program. Other reasons to choose this option to begin your recovery journey include:
- You will be in a closely supervised environment where you won’t have access to alcohol. If you try to quit drinking on your own, the cravings and other withdrawal symptoms could push you back into active alcohol abuse. This will not occur in detox.
- You will be cared for by a team of professionals who are familiar with all parts of the alcohol withdrawal process. Knowing that your treatment team is prepared for any contingencies that may occur can be a source of considerable peace of mind.
- Depending on your progress, you may be able to participate in therapy sessions while you’re still in detox. During therapy, you can begin to address the issues and concerns that may have contributed to your alcohol abuse and addiction. You can also start to develop the skills that will support your successful recovery.
- Before you transition out of treatment, your detox team can help you determine which type of follow-on programming (such as residential or outpatient care) will be best for you.
Find Detox for Alcohol Withdrawal in Atlanta
Peachtree Detox is a premier inpatient detoxification program in Atlanta, Georgia. We are committed to providing the customized services and close personal support that can help you get through alcohol withdrawal quickly and safely.
Untreated alcoholism can have a devastating impact on virtually every part of your life. But when you start your recovery journey at Peachtree Detox, you can rid your body of alcohol and begin to build a foundation for a much healthier and more hopeful future.
To learn more about how we can help, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.