Prosom Withdrawal & Detox

Prosom is a brand-name benzodiazepine. While the brand-name version isn’t currently available in the U.S., the generic version, estazolam, may be. This drug is prescribed primarily for the short-term treatment of insomnia. As with other benzos, it may be helpful as an anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety medication. Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs believed to affect the GABA receptors in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter responsible for having a calming effect. Essentially, taking Prosom or any other benzo makes more GABA available in the brain. This then calms the neural activity and allows the person to feel drowsy or more relaxed.

While Prosom can be beneficial in the short term, it’s not supposed to be used over the long term. The same is true of other benzodiazepines like Xanax. The longer someone uses them, the more likely they are to become dependent and addicted. Dependence and addiction are two distinct conditions. When someone is dependent on Prosom, their body has become so used to the drug that it struggles to function normally without it. Someone who is physically dependent on Prosom and stops taking it suddenly may go through withdrawal.

Addiction occurs when the effects of the drug trigger a reward response in the brain. This reward response can cause the brain to want to continually seek out the pleasurable stimuli (i.e., the drug). A person develops an addiction when the use of the drug eventually becomes compulsive and out of the person’s control. It’s possible to be dependent on Prosom without being addicted and vice versa

When someone who is dependent on a drug like Prosom stops cold turkey, that person will likely go through withdrawal symptoms. The half-life for estazolam is estimated to range from 10 to 24 hours. (A drug’s half-life indicates how long it takes the body to eliminate half a dose of the drug.) Determining the half-life of estazolam can help people understand when withdrawal symptoms may begin for them. For most people, symptoms will develop anywhere from three to four days after the last use of estazolam, although they can begin sooner. In general, benzo withdrawal symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to several months. The length and severity of withdrawal symptoms depend on factors including how long someone has used the substance and the dosages they have taken.

During the early stages of Prosom withdrawal, a person will typically experience rebound symptoms of what the drug was initially intended to treat. Symptoms can include anxiety and insomnia. Then the acute phase of withdrawal may begin. Acute benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can include

• Continuing anxiety or panic
• Sleep disturbances
• Muscle spasms
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Blurred vision
• Short-term memory problems
• Hallucinations
• Changes in mood
• Agitation
• Cravings
• Seizures

The acute phase of Prosom withdrawal marks the period when it is especially important to have medical care. Some medications can be given to alleviate the severity of symptoms. Medical treatment may also be required when symptoms are severe, such as seizures. Some people may also experience suicidal thoughts or tendencies during Prosom or benzodiazepine withdrawal, and these cases also require medical care and attention.

Prosom detox or detox from any benzodiazepine can be severe or even deadly. That’s why it is usually recommended that people undergo a medical detox. A medical detox allows for benzos to be eliminated from the brain and body safely. It also offers the resources to shorten the length and severity of Prosom withdrawal. If a patient suffers from polydrug abuse or a mental health disorder, a medical detox is the best first step before going to treatment. It’s never advisable to try to go through benzodiazepine detox at home or on your own because the risks are significant.

Do you or a loved one struggle with a benzodiazepine like Prosom? If so, contact The Recovery Village. We can help you explore your options for a safe and comfortable medical detox, as well as the treatment options available to you.