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Can Benzodiazepines Be Recommended For Anxiety During Addiction Treatment?

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Posted on Thu, 18 Jun 2015
Question: I will be counseling a man with severe anxiety and some depression. His anxiety will not allow him go to any addiction treatment centre so I have been hired to go to his home he can get treatment. So you recommend benzodiazepines for his anxiety disorder or is there too great of a chance of cross addiction? XXXXXXX judy.a @gmail
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Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (27 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Benzo under medical supervision is not addictive

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Thanks for writing to us.

In mild to moderate anxiety psychotherapy and behavior modification with relaxation techniques can help without medicines.
In severe anxiety and depression patient first needs to be relaxed for psychotherapy with help of medicines.

Benzodiazepines(clonazepam,lorazepam) are very good anti anxiety drugs for immediate relief. When one of them used under doctor(psychiatrist)'s guidance it is very much helpful.Your apprehension is right that they are addictive but this happens only when person takes medicines on his/her own and more in dose than prescribed. If it is taken according to prescription, it can be stopped gradually without discomfort and addiction will not occur.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.

Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Chintan Solanki

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2406 Questions

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Can Benzodiazepines Be Recommended For Anxiety During Addiction Treatment?

Brief Answer: Benzo under medical supervision is not addictive Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXXX Thanks for writing to us. In mild to moderate anxiety psychotherapy and behavior modification with relaxation techniques can help without medicines. In severe anxiety and depression patient first needs to be relaxed for psychotherapy with help of medicines. Benzodiazepines(clonazepam,lorazepam) are very good anti anxiety drugs for immediate relief. When one of them used under doctor(psychiatrist)'s guidance it is very much helpful.Your apprehension is right that they are addictive but this happens only when person takes medicines on his/her own and more in dose than prescribed. If it is taken according to prescription, it can be stopped gradually without discomfort and addiction will not occur. Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further. Regards, Dr.Chintan Solanki.