Benzodiazepine, coloqually called “benzos,” are a prescription medication used to treat various conditions, including anxiety, panic attacks, and even seziures. However, the substance is often used recreationally for it’s calming and elative effects, which can lead to overdose.
A benzodiazepine overdose happens any time you consume more of the medication than you system can metabolize at once. Certain factors like dosage and tolerance level can make this more likely.
If you or someone you love is taking benzos without proper supervision, it’s normal to be afraid of overdose. In fact, in 2023, there were 10,870 drug overdose deaths involving benzodiazepines in the United States.
At Pacific Sands, we understand the realites of substance use disorders, and we want the people of Orange County to be able to make informed decisions about their health. No matter where you are in your recovery journey, we’re here to support you.
Key Takeaways About Benzo Overdose:
- Benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, are a kind of central nervous system depressant utilized for their sedative effects.
- A benzo overdose can happen any time you take more of the substance than your body can handle.
- Mixing benzodiazepines with depressants can make certain side effects come on earlier, while mixing them with stimulants can hide symptoms until they become more severe.
- Common symptoms of a benzo overdose include shallow breathing, severe confusion, short-term memory problems, loss of consciousness, and blue lips or fingers.
- Dangers associated with overdosing on benzodiazepines include potential organ failure, brain damage, or death. Other serious symptoms include delusions and hallucinations.
- If you or someone you’re with is actively overdosing on benzodiazepines, call 911, keep the person conscious, and be prepared with relevant information for paramedics.
- Mixing benzos with other substances or returning to use following withdrawals puts you at higher risk for an overdose.
Benzodiazepine Overdose Explained: Understanding the Medication, Risks, and Realities
Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are a category of central nervous system depressants, or tranquilizers, prescribed by doctors for their calming and sedative effects. This prescription medication enhances the effectiveness of a neurotransmitter known as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and makes GABA receptors more sensitive.
4 common examples of benzodiazepines include:
- Valium (diazepam)
- Ativan (lorazepam)
- Klonopin (clonazepam)
- Xanax (alprazolam)
If you take benzodiazepines regularly over an extended period of time, you’ll develop a tolerance, which means you have to take more and more of the substance ot feel their effects. For many people, this leads to taking higher doses over time.
When you take a substance, even a prescription medication, your body has to break it down. This doesn’t necessarily mean that any particular substance taken in moderation is dangerous, but it does mean that it has an impact on vital organs. Benzos have to make their way through your digestive system into your renal system, which includes your liver and kidneys.
An overdose can happen any time you consume more of a substance than your body can physically handle. Your liver, specifically, is responsible for filtering toxins from the body. If you take more benzodiazepines than your liver can safely filter, the rest of your organs will be impacted. If you consume additional benzos while you’re at your limit, you will experience the intense side effects of an overdose.
Pay Attention Early: Warning Signs of a Potential Benzodiazepine Overdose
In the case of most overdoses, there are early warning signs and risk factors that indicate you’re about to have an overdose. For example, you’re more likely to overdose on benzodiazepines if you mix the medication with another substance.
Benzos are a depressant, so if you mix them with another central nervous system depressant, like alcohol or opioids, their sedative effects will be amplified.
Mixing depressants worsens the severity of side effects such as:
- Slowed Heartrate
- Slowed breathing
- Slurred speech
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Weakness
- Poor coordination
When you mix benzodiazepines with stimulants, such as cocaine or meth, the side effects can mask one another. In fact, many people use benzos to subdue the comedown from stimulants for this reason. However, because of this interaction, it makes identifying the early signs of an overdose is much more difficult. In these cases, it may not be possible to identify an overdose until it’s already in full swing.
The longer an overdose goes on, the more severe the symptoms become. The potential long-term side effects also become more dangerous. That’s why it’s vital to identify the signs of a potential overdose as early as possible.
Recognizing the Common Symptoms of a Benzo Overdose in Yourself or a Loved One
You may not be reading this page because you’re concerned about yourself. You may be concerned about a loved one who’s living with a benzodiazepine use disorder.
Regardless of whether you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one, it’s important to be able to tell the difference between typical side effects of benzodiazepine consumption and an overdose.
Common side effects of benzo use include:
- Feelings of euphoria or elation
- Intense relaxation
- Muscle weakness
- Slowed reaction time
- Fatigue
- Impaired judgement
Some of these side effects, like euphoria and relaxation, may be the reason that you seek out benzodiazepines, beyond their prescribed uses. Similar to other depressants, like alcohol, they cause your body to slow down.
When you take more of the substance than your body can handle, these depressant effects can become dangerous.
5 common symptoms of a benzodiazepine overdose include:
- Shallow or stopped breathing
- Extreme confusion
- Short-term memory problems
- Loss of consciousness
- A blue tint to the lips or fingertips
A benzo overdose is a medical emergency that will not resolve on its own. An overdose requires immediate medical attention.
The Serious Risks of a Benzodiazepine Overdose — and Why Acting Quickly Matters
A benzodiazepine overdose can have serious consequences. When the central nervous system slows down significantly, the lungs and heart both slow. During a benzo overdose, blood flow slows, and oxygen isn’t getting to vital organs — including the brain. This can result in organ failure, permanent brain damage, or death.
In other cases, overdosing can result in severe psychological side effects, including delirium and hallucinations. When this happens, a person may see or believe things that aren’t real because of the way the medication is impacting their brain, and act irrationally or violently.
These symptoms can have a lasting impact, which means acting quickly could save your life or someone else’s.
What to Do If You or Your Loved One Is Experiencing a Benzo Overdose
The experience of overdosing, or being with someone overdosing, is extremely frightening, but it’s important to stay calm and take action.
Take these 3 steps if you or someone you love is overdosing:
- Call 911: Getting medical attention is key. Don’t worry about getting arrested; California’s Good Samaritan Law protects you from being prosecuted for taking or possessing substances if you call for medical assistance.
- Maintain consciousness: Do your best to stay alert or keep the other person conscious. Talking and interacting with your surroundings may help.
- Be prepared to answer questions: Make notes of the dosage, any substances taken in combination with it, and any other relevant information to relay to paramedics.
Who Faces the Highest Risk of a Benzo Overdose — and How to Lower Yours
Anytime you take benzodiazepines in higher doses than you are prescribed, you’re at risk of overdosing on the substance. This includes the first time taking the medication recreationally.
People who exhibit signs of benzodiazepine addiction or other substance use disorder have a heightened risk of overdose. As noted above, mixing benzos with other substances, like alcohol, opioids, or coke, dramatically increases your overdose risk because of how the side effects are altered. In fact, in 2023, 70% of fatal benzodiazepine overdoses involved fentanyl.
You’re also at higher risk of overdosing if you return to use following benzodiazepine withdrawals. Overdoses are most common if you return to your usual dose after not taking the substance for a period of time, because your tolerance will be lower than it once was.
The best way to avoid a benzo overdose is to exclusively take the medication as it is prescribed by your doctor.
Treatment For Benzodiazepine Addiction at Pacific Sands in Santa Ana, CA
The threat of overdosing on benzos is very real, especially if you’re taking them recreationally. But that fear doesn’t have to consume your life; recovery is possible.
The right benzodiazepine detox will empower you to safely end your substance use and provide you with world-class support while you regain stability.
At Pacific Sands, our clinical director and primary therapist are on location 50 hours a week, because it’s our priority that you receive one-on-one attention when you need it most, during your detox and recovery from benzodiazepines. To get started today, give us a call at 949-426-7962
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