Benzo Research, treatment, therapy...

 

Blog 6: Benzo addiction treatment, therapy, and alternative approaches

 

Karissa Lemire

 

Baker College

 

“Research, research, read all about it!”

 

Today’s treatment of prescription medication addictions such as benzodiazepines is modeled after careful research whose purpose is to serve professionals in their quest to help people. Exploring this research brought me to the 2013 study in which professionals compare addicted benzodiazepine takers to non-addicted takers of the substance. While this research is a bit older it holds it’s value in demonstrating the importance of understanding who may be susceptible to benzo abuse when treating their conditions with this type of medication.

 

According to researchers, benzo addiction is connected to many factors that are not fully considered when prescribing these medications. These factors include no determined time of treatment, lack of alternative methods, patient not fully educated on the possibilities of addiction, and other treatment details (Konopka, Pelka-Wysiecka, Grzywacz, & Samochowiec, 2013) Remember, benzos are a helpful medication. One that many uses in the treatment of such conditions as mood disorders, sleep disorders, and even alcohol withdrawal. The use of benzodiazepines is recommended for short time use because of their dangerous side effects such as cognitive impairment, balance issues, increased chance of accidents, and dependency (Konopka et. al., 2013). What the researchers discovered about benzo addicted users is that personality traits, coping styles, and exposure to trauma all impacted how those prescribed benzos used them (Konopka et. al., 2013). This information can be used to help clinicians with their treatment approach and aid in determining if their patient is at risk of abusing their medications.

 

Curious to know how the standard dose compares to each user? View the table below:

 

 

 

Most who are addicted to benzodiazepines are likely to use doses of 10 mg or higher at a time. Those who take the medication as prescribed tend to avoid doses higher than 10 mg.

 

Current research also explores common trends and patterns of behaviors of those addicted to substances to gain a better understating of the development and treatment of addiction. In a 2018 study conducted by the Denver Department of Medicine and published by the Clinical Toxicology Journal illustrated a strong connection between opioid death and benzodiazepine use. Between 2000-2014 1,336,657 calls were made to the poison control center regarding opioids or benzo exposure. Of those calls, 125,825 were determined to be intentional abuse or misuse of those medications (Calcaterra, Severtson, Bau, Margolin, Bucher-Bartelson, Green, & Dart, 2018). When benzos and opioids are used together, they pose an even greater health risk to the individual consuming these substances. Because opioid overdose deaths are increasing in the US, understanding these facts are especially important. The risk of death when both are used together increases drastically according to research findings. 17% of the number of intentional misuse people calling the poison center concerning these substances were using both benzos and opioids together (Calcaterra, et. al., 2018). Clinicians can use this information and more gathered from research on this topic to treat their patients with more consideration. For example, if a patient has struggled with opioid misuse in the past, possibly seek out alternative methods or medications if that patient mush also is treated for anxiety, sleep disorder, or other condition where benzos are prescribed.

 

Clinicians should make it a point to assess their patients on their likelihood to abuse medications, as well as review the medications they already take, before starting treatment for anxiety, substance issues, or any other condition. If alternative treatments to such issues are needed there are many for professionals to choose from. Alternative methods can be used alone with medication as needed. Not surprisingly, many holistic therapies used to treat anxiety are also used to help treat benzo addiction. Such therapies as yoga, acupuncture, and meditation are all proven to help reduce stress, increase happiness, and reduce sleep troubles (Dabel, 2016). To read more about a holistic approach to benzo addiction treatment view this webpage: https://www.altamirarecovery.com/blog/holistic-therapies-aid-treatment-benzodiazepine-addiction/

References:

 

Calcaterra, S. L., Severtson, S. G., Bau, G. E., Margolin, Z. R., Bucher-Bartelson, B., Green, J. L., & Dart, R. C. (2018). Trends in intentional abuse or misuse of benzodiazepines and opioid analgesics and the associated mortality reported to poison centers across the United States from 2000 to 2014. Clinical Toxicology (15563650), 56(11), 1107–1114. https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2018.1457792

 

Dabel, T. (2016). How holistic therapies aid in the treatment of benzodiazepine addiction [Blog]. Retrieved from https://www.altamirarecovery.com/blog/holistic-therapies-aid-treatment-benzodiazepine-addiction/

 

Konopka, A., Pelka-Wysiecka, J., Grzywacz, A., & Samochowiec, J. (2013). Psychosocial characteristics of benzodiazepine addicts compared to not addicted benzodiazepine users. Progress In Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, (40), 229-235. Retrieved from Science Direct database