Doctors often prescribe benzodiazepine drugs to treat panic and anxiety. These medications can offer relief from anxiety symptoms for people who experience social anxiety, general anxiety, or panic attacks. But these medications can also lead to dependence and addiction that interfere with people’s ability to function in their daily life. For example, one specific benzodiazepine, Rivotril, which most people in the United States know as Klonopin, is a highly effective yet addictive prescription medication used to treat anxiety.
For help overcoming an addiction to Rivotril or other benzodiazepine medications, please reach out to the staff at Women’s Recovery. We offer treatment and support for every woman at every stage of their recovery journey. Call us today at 833.754.0554 or fill out an online intake form here.
What Is Rivotril?
Rivotril is a benzodiazepine that doctors initially prescribed to prevent seizures that occur with certain forms of epilepsy. It can prevent overactivity in the brain associated with panic and anxiety, and doctors began prescribing it to treat these conditions. In most cases, it is safe when the person uses it for a short time. However, this medication often prompts people to take higher doses than prescribed or continue taking it longer than is safe.
Rivotril increases a neurotransmitter called GABA. If someone has too little GABA in their brain, they may have excessive brain activity that manifests in seizures or anxiety. Rivotril has a sedating effect on the body, and it begins working very quickly. Some of the immediate side effects of Rivotril include:
- Poor coordination
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness
- Blurry vision
- Poor memory
- Slurred or impaired speech
- Problems with concentration
Some of the potential physical side effects can be dangerous. They include digestive issues, headache, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and an increase in seizure activity. Therefore, people should only take Rivotril under a medical professional’s direction and supervision.
Recognizing Rivotril Addiction Early
Like many other benzodiazepines, Rivotril has the potential to cause dependence or addiction. The sooner you recognize the signs of addiction, the better the outcome will be. People who begin taking Rivotril to relieve their anxiety may need to take higher and higher doses to get the same pleasant or “high” feeling they experienced initially. The potential risk of overdose is high, especially if mixing Rivotril with alcohol or other drugs. Some signs of addiction include:
- Secretive behavior around drug use
- Spending a lot of time getting, using, and recovering from drug use
- Using more than prescribed or intended
- Isolating
- Changes in mood, sleep, or appetite
- Continuing to use the drug despite negative consequences
- Financial issues or illegal activity surrounding drug use
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when attempting to cut back or stop using the drug
Withdrawal from benzodiazepines can be dangerous. The effects of stopping this sedating medication can be life-threatening and can lead to seizures, extreme anxiety, and insomnia.
What Happens in Benzo Addiction Treatment?
For people who struggle with benzo addiction, medically supervised detox must be the first step in treatment. When someone stops taking Rivotril, their brain may react with a storm of electrical activity that needs medical attention to avoid extreme harm or death. For most people, Rivotril addiction treatment may include:
- Tapering their Rivotril use slowly
- Taking other anxiety medications
- Physical care, including holistic measures for comfort and healing
- Education about their addiction
- Individual, group, and family therapy sessions
Benzo addiction, like other addictions, is never cured. Instead, people must learn the skills to manage their addiction and avoid relapse for the rest of their life. Seeking high-quality detox and addiction treatment programs is the first step in recovery and can lead to the healthy, goal-oriented life people want to live.
Learn More at Women’s Recovery
If you or a woman you care about is struggling with an addiction to Rivotril or another benzo, please reach out to the staff at Women’s Recovery. We offer a range of adaptable, high-quality programs designed to support every woman during each stage of their recovery from addiction. In addition to our benzo addiction treatment programs, we offer:
- Alcohol addiction treatment
- Heroin addiction treatment
- Cocaine addiction treatment
- Meth addiction treatment
- Opioid addiction treatment
If you are ready for life-changing care, we want to join you on your recovery journey. Please call us today at 833.754.0554 or fill out an online intake form here.
