Oxazepam Treatment and Rehab

The United States is facing a facing severe prescription pill epidemic that’s threatening to overrun lives. The number of people who died from prescription pills-related deaths rose to scarcely believable levels between 1999 and 2010, outnumbering deaths from cocaine and heroin combined. In 2010 alone, over 12 million Americans abused prescription medication and it is a problem for which the government doesn’t have a tactical strategy to end.
The UK isn’t exempt. Public Health England recently launched a review into the growing problem of prescription pill addiction, with data from the NHS showing that one in every 11 UK patients is prescribed medication for addiction potential. Medications such as Oxazepam, Xanax, Valium, Percocet, Oxycodone and Hydrocodone are hard to wean off. When patients try to quit, they experience painful symptoms that necessitates addiction treatment and rehab to fully overcome the problem.

Oxazepam Abuse and Addiction Treatment

In recent years, there’s been a sharp increase in the number of people abusing prescription medication. This has led to increased hospital visits caused by accidental overdose and complications from trying to detox at home. Oxazepam is an addictive short-medium term benzodiazepine used for treating insomnia, anxiety and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Also known as Serax, this short-acting medication produces similar effects to Xanax, Valium, Ativan and other anxiety relief medications. Benzos require special precaution for the likes of pregnant women, alcohol-drug dependent patients, elderly people and individuals with psychiatric disorders. It’s easy to develop tolerance and physical addiction on Oxazepam. Therefore, you should stop taking the medication as soon as you start feeling better.

In spite of its abuse potential, the drug has proved effective in treating alcoholism. Statistics show that abuse potential in alcohol recovery patients is low and only four cases have been reported over many years.

For most people who abuse prescription medications, the decision to start is voluntary, but quitting is out of their control. Prescription medications alter natural brain function and affect your ability to make logical decisions or exhibit self-control. Meanwhile, you’re also experiencing the intense urge to take more drugs and increase your dosage to feel more of the same effect.

If you or anyone you know are struggling with addiction to Oxazepam, Addiction Helper can recommend some of the best rehab facilities in the UK, where you’ll detox safely and receive psychotherapy treatment for your condition.

What is Oxazepam addiction?

There are certain chemicals in the brain that might be unbalanced in people that suffer from anxiety. Oxazepam balances those chemicals by inhibiting certain effects on the brain and spinal cord to help you feel calm and relaxed. This central nervous system depressant has short-acting and anxiolytic properties that treat a range of panic and anxiety disorders. It’s also effective as a muscle relaxant, anticonvulsant, amnesic and sleep-inducing sedative.

Addiction is a disease that affects the brain. Think of it like a vicious repetitive cycle you can’t get out of. You feel compelled to do the same thing over and over again, even when you know the risk and the effects of addiction on your family, physical health and finances. Addiction changes the physical structure and function of the brain.

When you take Oxazepam for long periods, the body easily builds tolerance and disrupts natural brain function. When physically dependent, the body and brain adjust to the overflow of drugs. The mind can only function properly with the presence of Serax, while GABA neurons down-regulate and the liver metabolises oxazepam at a faster rate.

In time, you’ll need to increase the dose to feel the original effects of oxazepam. This leads to physical/psychological dependence and in the long run, drug addiction. Benzodiazepines are very potent. Even recreational and short-term users can develop addiction. When trying to quit, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, sweating, headaches and irritability.

Oxazepam Addiction Treatment

All benzos aren’t manufactured equally and the strongest function of Oxazepam is in treating insomnia. The slow-acting and long-lasting component of the medication makes it ideal to last twice as long as other benzodiazepines, allowing you to sleep throughout the night.

Once you’ve developed tolerance to Serax, you might use more of the drug to stave off withdrawal symptoms. However, you needn’t fear withdrawal if you complete the process at a rehab centre. Treatment begins with intake, where you’ll be assessed and a treatment plan drawn up for you. Next is detox, where your body rids itself of all harmful toxins and benzodiazepines. Oxazepam causes serious brain damage, so it’s important you undergo treatment at a licensed facility to ensure there are no adverse effects from withdrawal.

For full recovery from Serax abuse and addiction, you’ll require therapy provided in rehab. Addiction is mostly psychological, which makes it harder to overcome. People who are addicted don’t start out by deciding to abuse benzos. Their damaged brain cells keep urging them to take more of the drug, so it’s difficult for them to seek treatment on their own.

Therapy is essential, because it tackles the real reasons that led you to abuse drugs and helps you understand the consequences of drug-related behaviours. It also teaches practical coping strategies that help you avoid temptations after rehab and live a healthy, sober life. Options for rehab include inpatient and outpatient rehab. The decision with regards the best option should be made after consultation with an addiction specialist.

Oxazepam Dependence Treatment Suggestions

Treatment options for Oxazepam dependence include:

Medication-assisted treatment

During detox and rehab, medication-assisted treatment is used to treat any physical and psychological symptoms you might experience. Some of the most effective drugs for treating benzos withdrawal include clonazepam and clonidine.

Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine that also affects unbalanced chemicals in the brain. It is used to treat withdrawal symptoms such as panic disorder and seizures. It’s a habit-forming medication, so patients are advised not to take it for longer than nine weeks.

Clonidine reduces blood pressure by lowering the levels of some chemicals in your blood. This enables blood vessels to beat more easily and slowly, by relaxing your heart when blood pressure spikes during withdrawal.

Residential and partial hospitalisation programmes

Residential rehab programmes are all-inclusive, as most facilities offer detox, rehab and aftercare plans. Treatment consists of individual therapy, group counselling, 12-step meetings and other alternative therapy models.

Partial hospitalisation is a rehab programme where you attend rehab six hours a day or over five days a week. It offers similar programmes to inpatient rehab, with the difference being you go home each day. Alternatively, you can register for an intensive outpatient programme or traditional outpatient one, depending on your work/school schedule.

Warning signs of Oxazepam abuse and Addiction

Patients who take Serax under the guidance of a doctor are highly unlikely to abuse or experience psychological addiction to oxazepam. The risk lies with problem users who take too much and abuse the drug in any way. Recognising signs of abuse can help you save a loved one before they fall into full-blown addiction within a few months of taking benzos. A few physical signs to look out for include:

  • Shallow breathing
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Sweating
  • Impaired coordination
  • Nausea and vomiting

Observe them for conspicuous signs that might not be easily visible. You’ll notice they defend their addiction, hide their drugs (because they’re using more than the prescribed dose), are gone for long periods, obsess over the next dose and exhibit rapid mood changes and irritability when they go a just short period without taking drugs.

Effects: Short and Long-Term

Millions in Europe and America are prescribed addictive benzodiazepine every year, increasing the risk of more people becoming addicted. In its metabolised chemical form, Serax docks into GABA receptors and stimulates the release of GABA neurotransmitters in the brain.

Naturally occurring GABA helps you sleep at night, but chemically produced GABA (like Serax) releases surplus, which is more than the body needs. Repeated influx of Oxazepam disrupts GABA functioning and the entire brain structure. This leads to brain damage, which is sometimes irreversible.

Immediate effects you’ll feel when you abuse benzos include: confusion, blurred vision, headaches, anxiety, fatigue, body pain and irritability. Major problems result from long-term benzodiazepines usage, where there is social, physical and mental risk. You should never stop taking the medication on your own, without consulting your doctor. Adverse effects recorded in long-term users include memory problems, personality changes, suicide ideation, impaired cognitive function and risk of death from overdose.

It reinforces usage in some people with drug-seeking behaviour and leads to physical dependence.  Other long-term effects of using oxazepam include:

  • Worsened sleep disorder
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Psychosis
  • Anxiety
  • Panic disorder
  • Social phobia
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Agoraphobia
  • Paresthesia
  • Brain damage

Why You Should Seek Treatment and Rehab for Oxazepam Abuse and addiction

Addiction is a serious psychological problem you shouldn’t fight on your own, because you’ll most likely lose, even when you think you’re winning. When you detox ‘cold turkey’, the drugs leave your system, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms and, in a few weeks, you’re feeling better. However, you’ve not addressed the underlying reasons why you abused drugs, nor do you understand negative patterns that fuelled your drug use. Hence, there’s a high chance you’re going to fall back into old habits within the first month after you quit taking the drug.

Think about the consequences of your drug use: loss of job, broken relationships, empty bank accounts and failure everywhere you turn. It’s overwhelming and extremely stressful. If you’re not suitably equipped to come to terms with your past errors and learn how to move forward, the stress will make you relapse and fall deeper into addiction.

Therapists, drug counsellors, addiction specialists and fellow recovering addicts provide a safe space for recovery. You’ll learn from qualified specialists and peers on how to maintain long-term sobriety, recognise triggers and mend broken relationships.

How to Help a Loved One Seek Treatment

Addiction is a disease that affects every individual in the family unit. Having a loved one who is dealing with Oxazepam addiction can be surprising, especially when they started out as legitimate drug users who needed oxazepam to sleep better, reduce anxiety or manage panic disorders.

The first thing to do is learn all you can about Benzodiazepine abuse and addiction. Familiarise yourself with signs of abuse, withdrawal symptoms, what treatment entails, support groups and what your circle of support can do to help the person dealing with substance use disorder.

Next, call Addiction Helper and one of our certified addiction specialists will speak to you and advise the best way to proceed with helping your loved one, whilst recommending rehab centres across the UK that are equipped to deal with Oxazepam addiction and its treatment.

When you approach your loved one, find a quiet place where they won’t feel threatened or exposed. Let them know you’re concerned about their drug habit and the effects it’s having – not just on them, but the entire family. Be patient; they have to be willing to get help for addiction or else recovery won’t stick. Don’t enable their drug usage, but let them know you’ll be there when they’re ready to seek help.

Why Seek Rehab at a Treatment Centre for Oxazepam Addiction?

Benzos like Oxazepam have a serious effect on your life. Abuse changes your behaviour and appearance. As you develop dependence, your priorities shift from being a loving spouse, good parent and reliable staff member to drug taking and your next ‘hit’. A few reasons why you need rehab treatment for oxazepam addiction include:

You’ve lost control over your drug use: Addiction changes your brain’s chemistry and reinforces drug use. Your brain adjusts to the presence of oxazepam and constantly requires high amounts to function normally. When you try to quit, the brain fights you with strong cravings – the undoing of most people who try to quit on their own. The reality is, you can reverse alterations to brain chemicals and detox safely if you enrol for treatment at a rehab facility.

Research-back treatment plans: Which would be more effective – winging treatment on your own until you relapse or receiving treatment from experienced drug counsellors and therapists who can teach you to identify triggers and improve your chances of long-term recovery?

A Benzodiazepine rehab centre is the most effective way to counter the damage caused by addiction. Using a wide range of therapy techniques and medication-assisted treatment, you’ll learn to cope with stressors, manage triggers and live a life of sobriety.

What’s Oxazepam Rehab Like?

It’s difficult to prepare yourself for rehab if you’ve never been. Knowing what to expect at an addiction treatment centre makes it easier to enrol and settle in. On arrival, you’ll undergo evaluation and intake. This process starts with meeting a certified counsellor who enquires about your drug history, goals for rehab and evaluation of the severity of your addiction.

You need to be completely honest, because this helps the team of addiction specialists prepare the best treatment plan for you. Next, you’ll take a detox test, which determines the procedure for drug detox. At check-in, your luggage is examined for contrabands, cellphones and communication devices.

Your daily schedule consists of yoga or meditation, breakfast, doctor’s appointment, one-on-one therapy sessions, group therapy sessions, interactions with other rehab residents and alternative therapy techniques.

Types of Oxazepam Addiction Treatment

Treatment options include detox, medication-assisted therapy, rehab, mutual support groups and aftercare plan. Detox is usually administered either at a detox-only facility or residential rehab centre.

Intensive outpatient programmes are comprehensive and similar to residential treatment. You’ll go home each night and attend rehab during the day. You can also receive a tapering schedule at your doctor’s office – or even detox at a hospital if you’re a high-risk patient with a history of life-threatening withdrawal complications.

After detox, you’ll transition to rehab, where different therapy approaches will be used to treat addiction. One option is individual therapy, where the number of sessions depends on the severity of addiction and personal needs of the patient. Initially, you’ll meet with a therapist once or twice a week. Your input helps the therapist to create a treatment plan for you. The therapist might combine elements from different types of psychotherapy to create the best possible treatment for you. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), family counselling and motivational interviewing.

When to choose: inpatient vs. outpatient

Inpatient addiction treatment

Residential treatment for oxazepam addiction is a comprehensive treatment that provides on-site 24/7 care for patients to reduce distractions and help focus all your attention and efforts on getting better. Studies have shown that inpatient treatment is most effective when you spend 90 days or more at a facility. Firstly, detoxification cleanses your body of oxazepam. Medication will be provided as each symptom appears, to make the process as comfortable and safe as possible. Next, you’ll transition to therapy treatment, tailored to your addiction needs, including individual counselling and support groups.

Outpatient treatment

Outpatient treatment is designed for people with drug use disorder who prefer to attend rehab from home. The duration varies in length and lasts 12 to 16 weeks. You’ll receive therapy treatment just like an inpatient and will be required to take drug tests to confirm you’re sober. However, this treatment won’t be ideal if you have a mental health disorder or are suffering long-term addiction to oxazepam.

Choosing the Best Oxazepam Rehab Centre

The choice of rehab centre in which to receive treatment is a vital decision that determines the effectiveness of treatment. Many rehab programmes last only 28 days and research has shown they are not effective in sustaining recovery post-rehab. A few things to consider when choosing a rehab centre include:

Programmes that cater to your unique addiction needs: Every addiction and individual is unique in their combination of symptoms. The treatment centre you choose should have a broad range of programmes that effectively treats your addiction and prepares for sober living after rehab.

Inpatient or outpatient rehab: This is a choice to be made after consultation with an Addiction Helper consultant or medical professional. The type of drug used, length of use, frequency of use, presence of dual diagnosis, polydrug use problem and other physical health problems all play a big role in determining the type of treatment to choose.

Follow up care: Aftercare is just as important as rehab. Choose a rehab centre that offers post-rehab treatment and aftercare for at least six months. Continuity is essential to your recovery journey. You’ll receive medication and attend therapy sessions to ensure you don’t relapse after rehab.

Specialised Treatment and Therapy Options

Every individual entering rehab receives a unique treatment plan, because addiction isn’t the same for everyone. The factors that led you to abuse oxazepam, your physical health, mental health, lifestyle and existence of polydrug use disorder are all factored into your treatment plan. During intake, the addiction counsellor is very thorough in the questions they ask, because your answers are a guide to understanding your addiction and treatment needs.

However, there are specific groups that need special treatment. They include:

Teenagers: Treatment plans for teenagers are different from those of adults. Psychotherapists have to be specially trained to deal with teenagers. Teens attend teen-specific rehabs, where detox and rehab plans are tailored to their age groups.

LGBT community: People in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community have a lengthy history with polydrug use disorder. Treatment considers their lifestyle and social environment to adequately help them live a drug-free life.

Others who need speciali treatment include faith-based groups, pregnant women, elderly people and individuals with a history of mental health issues.

Withdrawal from Oxazepam

An overdose of Oxazepam is deadly if you wait until it has completely changed your brain chemistry before getting help. When you take oxazepam over a long period of time, there’s a chance you’re going to build tolerance, even when you follow doctor’s orders. The best thing to do at this point is to consult your doctor, though most patients simply increase their dose to feel the original effect of the drug.

After tolerance, you develop physical and psychological dependence on oxazepam. You won’t be able to complete regular tasks or function without oxazepam in your bloodstream. If you attempt to quit abruptly, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms.

Signs of Oxazepam withdrawal include:

  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Confusion
  • Body vibrations
  • Muscle pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Agoraphobia
  • Psychosis
  • Muscle spasms
  • Depression
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Excessive sweating
  • Memory problem

For short-acting benzos like Oxazepam, withdrawal symptoms start to manifest within 10 to 12 hours after your last dose. During the early stages, you might experience the return of insomnia and panic disorder. Tapering is the best way to reduce the pain during this phase. Next is the acute stage, where you’ll experience symptoms such as muscle spasms, diarrhoea, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, weight loss, drug cravings, mood swings, twitching and agitation. This stage lasts between two weeks and up to a month.

Continuing and Follow-up Care

Follow-up care is the most important part of oxazepam addiction treatment, because it tests the effectiveness of all the skills and strategies you learnt during rehab. When you’re in rehab, triggers and stressors are almost non-existent, because those managing your treatment have taken extreme caution to eliminate the risk of relapse. When you come out of rehab, you’re thrown into a world filled with temptations and friends who don’t know how to act around you, as well as family members who are still healing from your past actions and cravings that are bad on some days and worse on others.

Follow-up care keeps you in line, ensures you follow your aftercare plan and helps to maintain sobriety goals. It should include mutual support meetings, individual therapy, family therapy that encompasses friends and loved ones most affected by your drug use and group counselling. You’ll learn how to deal with triggers such as running into an old friend who gave you drugs, walking past a place that held negative memories for you, meeting someone who might have fuelled your drug usage subconsciously, as well as other triggers. Examples include SMART Recovery, Narcotics Anonymous, Save Our Selves and Recovering Couples Anonymous.

Relapse Prevention

You might not want to hear this if you’re considering rehab, but there is a high chance of relapse post-rehab. Statistics show that an overwhelming 80% of people who seek treatment for addiction relapse within the first month. Creating and following a relapse prevention plan ensures you’re well equipped to identify and deal with risky situations that lead to relapse. High-risk situations include environmental stressors, mood changes, and interpersonal stressors.

Cravings are a major risk factor for relapse in long-term users and aftercare services contribute to better outcomes and improve retention in treatment. Options include:

12-step programmes: this is a self-help programme, based on guiding principles for tackling addiction. It’s founded on the belief that you are powerless against your addiction and recovery is sought in spiritual, physical, emotional and mental domains.

Medical care for those with a history of benzo abuse: supervised medical care is required to reverse the effect of memory deficits, motional blunting, cognitive decline, and teratogenicity. A third of individuals with severe oxazepam dependence have lifetime panic disorder and major depressive disorder. Medication will also be provided for all co-occurring disorders alongside Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which is an effective treatment for anxiety and insomnia in recovering addicts who used benzos for a long time.

Oxazepam Treatment: Costs and Payment Options

Repeated abuse of Serax damages the brain, which could prove permanent if you don’t get help in time. It’s easy to develop dependence on Serax, as the relaxing component triggers the reward system in the brain. You could experience delirium, depression, reduced cognition, memory loss and blackouts as side effects of oxazepam abuse. Treatment is your only option to live a healthy, substance-free life.

You have many options when paying for treatment. The first step is to call your insurer and find out what’s covered under your plan. Some insurers have a network of rehab centres you have to use if you want full coverage or they might cover partial payment at the rehab of your choice. If you don’t have insurance, you can seek funding from the NHIS, use your credit card, personal savings, ask for help from friends and loved ones or get a bank loan to finance treatment. There is no price on good health, so don’t wait until it’s too late.

Live a Sober Life Again: Call Now for Treatment Options

You might not know this, but ‘sober’ and ‘clean’ are not the same in terms of addiction recovery. Clean indicates that there’s no drug in your system, whereas sobriety captures the journey, character, healthy living, meetings and everything that makes you a better person post-rehab. Sobriety is a hard goal to achieve, but Addiction Helper can connect you with incredible rehab centres in the UK who have a track record of going the extra mile to provide comprehensive care for recovering addicts.

Call us today to speak to one our compassionate addiction specialists – some of whom have been in your shoes and will understand your struggle with addiction. From standard rehabs, free rehabs, state-funded programmes to luxury and executive rehabs, we have a large network throughout the UK to provide for your addiction needs.

Oxazepam Addiction: Statistics and Facts

An estimated 10% of high school students in the US have abused sedatives like oxazepam at least once in their lives. Around 47,000 emergency room visits are recorded annually from sedative overdose. Over two million Americans aged 12 and older abuse sedatives regularly. Benzos were originally formulated as a safer option to barbiturates. Addiction to Oxazepam occurs quickly. The danger with short-acting pills like oxazepam is when you combine them with alcohol. In the UK, roughly 1.5 million people are dependent on Benzos due to their GP’s prescription.


FAQs

What are the Effects of Oxazepam on the body?

The effects of benzos on the body include: low heart rate, low blood pressure, nausea, swelling, drowsiness, irregular menstrual periods, vomiting, skin rash, headache, blurred vision, muscle pain and weakness, lack of motor control, shallow breathing and loss of interest in sexual activity. Inform your doctor if you experience trouble walking, jaundice, urinary problems, fainting and amnesia.

Are Oxazepam Rehabs Private and Confidential?

The rehabs Addiction Helper recommends to our esteemed clients are private and confidential. Your details are never sold on or viewed by unauthorised persons. Your privacy is protected by everyone in the rehab centre, from care personnel to doctors, therapists and counsellors. They might compare notes, but that’s only to help you get better.

Do I Need an Inpatient Oxazepam Rehab Facility?

The decision to receive treatment on an inpatient or outpatient basis should be made after consulting an addiction specialist. If you’re a long-term drug user or individual dealing with co-occurring disorders or other physical health conditions, residential treatment is recommended to ensure you receive care for withdrawal symptoms, psychological addiction and mental health disorders.

Is Oxazepam Addictive?

Oxazepam is an addictive medication and part of the benzodiazepine family. It is prescribed for short-term relief because of the danger of addiction. Oxazepam targets GABA receptors to help the brain relax. The same compounds that help the brain relax can be addictive and trigger the brain’s reward system if you take larger doses than prescribed by your doctor or abuse oxazepam in any way.

How Do You Know if you’re Addicted to Oxazepam?

Physical signs of oxazepam abuse and addiction include: a desire to cut back on drug use, but not being able to follow through; rapid mood changes; asking friends and loved ones for pills; ‘doctor shopping’ for prescriptions; weakness; poor judgment; drowsiness and blurred vision.

How Much Does Oxazepam Treatment Cost?

The price of treatment depends on the type of treatment centre. Outpatient rehab treatment is cheaper than inpatient care. Among residential treatment facilities, the price differs based on the size, location, number of therapies available, amenities and expertise of medical professionals. In the UK, standard rehab costs around £5,000 a month and luxury rehab could cost up to £10,000 a week.

What Is Oxazepam Treatment?

If you abused oxazepam to the extent that you experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit, you need treatment to safely detox and learn to live a life without addictive substances. Treatment provides a safe place to recover and learn coping techniques that aid sober living.

How long does Oxazepam Rehab take?

Outpatient rehab last between 12 to 16 weeks. The detox process takes around seven to ten days and inpatient rehab depends on the severity of your addiction. There are short rehab stays that last 28 to 30 days for short-term, mild users and longer rehab stays ranging from 60 days, 90 days, six months and up to a year.

What Types of Oxazepam Addiction Treatment Programmes Are Available?

Generally, there are two options for addiction treatment: residential treatment and outpatient treatment. Residential treatment is a structured programme where you live as an inpatient in a rehab facility to maximise treatment efforts and recovery chances. Outpatient treatment is designed to suit those who can’t take time off work to attend rehab.

Is there an ideal duration for Oxazepam rehab?

The ideal duration for oxazepam rehab is 90 days. This is sufficient time for the worst of the cravings to leave your body and for you to learn how to cope with triggers and fully understand addiction. The longer your rehab stay, the greater your chances of long-term sobriety.

What Does Oxazepam Treatment Include?

Treatment includes detoxification (where you rid your body of drugs), receive pharmacology to alleviate painful withdrawal symptoms and undertake therapy models such as individual counselling, group therapy and 12-step groups. There is also aftercare planning to provide a support system for you and continuous treatment after rehab.

Are There Oxazepam Treatment Programmes for Teens?

Anyone who has been exposed to drugs is at risk for abuse and addiction – oxazepam included. Teens take oxazepam to relieve stress and feel calm. They get the medication either for medical conditions, steal from their parents’ medication or buy it on the streets. We can help you find specialised treatment centres that cater for teenagers battling addiction to oxazepam and other substances.

What are the various names for Oxazepam?

Oxazepam is marketed under different names worldwide. Some of the names include Oxazin, Praxiten, Serenal, Purata, Oxepam, Seresta, Serpax, Serenal, Selars and Serepax.

Get Confidential Help Now

Call our admissions line 24 hours a day to get help.