6–24 hours (short-acting) to 1–4 days (long-acting)
- — Rebound anxiety
- — insomnia
- — tremor
- — sweating often begin here
Benzodiazepine Addiction in Morrilton, AR
Benzodiazepines — including alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), and diazepam (Valium) — are prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and seizure disorders.
Overview
What benzodiazepine addiction looks like.
Benzodiazepines — including alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), and diazepam (Valium) — are prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and seizure disorders. Long-term or high-dose use can lead to physical dependence and a use disorder. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be medically dangerous and, like alcohol, can cause seizures — which is why a medically supervised taper is the clinical standard, never abrupt cessation.
Also known as: benzo addiction, Xanax addiction, Klonopin addiction, Ativan addiction, Valium addiction.
Signs of use
What patients and families actually notice.
- Using benzodiazepines in larger amounts or for longer than prescribed
- Doctor shopping or obtaining prescriptions from multiple providers
- Running out of medication early, requesting early refills
- Combining benzodiazepines with alcohol or opioids
- Drowsiness, slurred speech, or impaired coordination
- Memory problems and cognitive dulling
- Withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, insomnia, tremor) when a dose is missed
Withdrawal timeline
What withdrawal tends to look like.
Every person's experience varies. The windows below describe typical clinical patterns — your care team adjusts the plan based on how you respond.
First 1–7 days
- — Symptoms typically peak: severe anxiety
- — panic
- — tremor
- — elevated heart rate
- — seizure risk
1–4 weeks
- — On a structured taper, acute physical symptoms generally subside
- — sleep and mood can remain disrupted
Months (protracted withdrawal)
- — A subset of patients experience lingering anxiety
- — cognitive symptoms
- — sleep disturbance for an extended period
Treatment approach
How we treat benzodiazepine addiction.
Medically supervised taper
Abrupt cessation of benzodiazepines can cause seizures and is dangerous. A gradual, clinically supervised taper — sometimes cross-tapering to a longer-acting benzodiazepine — is the standard of care at our Morrilton campus.
Residential treatment
Residential care supports clients through extended tapers and provides structured treatment for the anxiety or trauma that often underlies benzodiazepine use.
Anxiety and trauma-focused therapy
CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed therapy address the conditions benzodiazepines were often originally prescribed for — helping prevent relapse to medication use after the taper.
Individual, group, and family therapy
Ongoing counseling and family sessions build coping skills and a stronger support system through the taper and beyond.
In Morrilton, AR
The local picture.
Hickory Grove Recovery, the only Alsos Behavioral Health recovery center in Arkansas, treats benzodiazepine dependence at our Morrilton campus, serving clients across the Little Rock–Conway corridor.
Frequently asked
Questions we hear most often.
Is it safe to stop benzodiazepines cold turkey?
No. Abruptly stopping benzodiazepines can cause seizures and can be life-threatening, particularly after long-term or high-dose use. A structured, clinically supervised taper is essential.
How long does a benzodiazepine taper take?
Tapers are individualized based on dose, duration of use, and how you respond. Medically supervised tapers commonly range from several weeks to several months; long-term or high-dose use may require a slower taper.
Is there a medication that replaces benzodiazepines the way MAT works for opioids?
No. There's no direct substitute medication for benzodiazepines. Treatment is a gradual, supervised taper — sometimes cross-tapering to a longer-acting benzodiazepine — paired with therapy for the underlying anxiety or condition.
Does insurance cover benzodiazepine detox?
Hickory Grove works with commercial insurance for medically supervised benzodiazepine taper and residential treatment. Our admissions team verifies your specific plan when you call.
Other substances we treat
The full treatment scope.
Take the next step
Discuss benzodiazepine addiction with our admissions team.
Admissions answers 24/7. We work with commercial insurance and verify your specific coverage on the call.