What's serotonin syndrome?

Serotonin syndrome, or serotonin toxicity, is an excess of serotonin in the body.

How do you get serotonin syndrome?

Generally, mild and more severe cases of serotonin syndrome is caused by taking too much medication (or a combination of medications) that alter serotonin levels. For example, taking a combination of antidepressants, or taking antidpressants with pain pills may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome.

How common is serotonin syndrome?

Serotonin syndrome is not often reported. However, this condition is thought to be commonly overlooked and may therefore be underdiagnosed.

How do you know if you have serotonin syndrome?

Symptoms of mild serotonin symptoms are easy to miss, so it is important to be aware of the medications that can cause this condition. In general, symptoms may include tremors or involuntary muscle movements, excessive sweating, changes in blood pressure and heart rate, pupil dilation, fever, anxiety, confusion, and ultimately, seizures.

How long does serotonin syndrome last?

The length of serotonin syndrome depends on the severity of the case. Mild serotonin syndrome will resolve on its own within a few days as long as the medication causing the problems is stopped. More severe cases will require medical attention and may take a week or longer to resolve.

What is a co-occurring disorder?

A co-occurring disorder is a condition that exists secondarily to another major health issue. If we use this co-occurring disorders definition to look at mental illness and substance abuse, we can see that turning to drugs or alcohol, which then results in addiction, often happens simultaneously when a patient also has mental health concerns. Since one issue influences and worsens the other, we would call these co-occurring disorders. Co-occurring disorders must be treated together through a specialized program to ensure full recovery.

Why is drug addiction considered a disease?

As with any disease, drug addiction is classified as such because it is a condition that can cause serious and numerous health complications. Additionally, drug addiction is considered a disease because it cannot simply go away on its own—instead, it needs to be treated by experts in the field.

Is alcoholism a mental illness?

Yes. According to the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a diagnosable mental illness that occurs in people who experience at least two of the 11 total criteria for this disorder. In fact, alcohol and mental illness have always been connected. Alcohol use can lead to mental health symptoms, and experiencing mental health distress without treatment can lead people to use alcohol as a way to “cope.”

What is a co-occurring disorder?

A co-occurring disorder is when you experience a mental health condition alongside another. If you have depression and anxiety, these would be co-occurring disorders. Co-occurring disorders can be challenging to diagnose and end up putting people at a greater risk for developing addiction struggles as well.

Is addiction a mental illness?

Having an addiction to drugs or alcohol is actually a mental illness. This means that addiction is something that greatly impacts your day-to-day life. Additionally, the fact that addiction is a mental health concern proves that it cannot go away on its own—instead, your ability to heal from addiction and any other mental health concerns relies on professional treatment.

What does dual diagnosis mean in mental health?

When it comes to mental health, dual diagnosis indicates that there is a mental health concern on top of a substance use disorder. Dual diagnosis is meant to help people who need treatment for mental health conditions as well as addiction.

What is dual diagnosis?

Simply put, the dual diagnosis definition is that a patient has two or more diagnoses that require treatment. For example, struggling with addiction as well as anxiety would be a dual disorder. With dual diagnosis treatment, you will have the opportunity to heal from both conditions in addition to learning valuable skills to use if you experience symptoms in the future.

What are barriers to mental health care?

Apart from challenges in getting access to care as well as navigating insurance for mental health treatment, the biggest barrier to mental health care is a lack of mental health awareness. Mental health awareness is essential in understanding symptoms of different mental illnesses and actually finding treatment to make your life happier and healthier.

What are evidence-based practices in mental health care?

Evidence-based practices are approaches to mental health care that are scientifically supported and proven to help treat specific disorders and illnesses, such as addiction. Port St. Lucie uses evidence-based practices to provide the best care possible for all of our patients.

How do I take care of my mental health?

The best way to take care of your mental health is to receive professional help through treatments for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Professional programs, like those at Port St. Lucie Hospital, give you access to evidence-based treatments that are proven to help you learn the skills you need to manage various mental health conditions.

Why care about mental health?

As with your overall health, mental health influences the way that you function from day to day. This is why it is so important to care about mental health. If you do not take care of your mental health, you could find it challenging to work, build healthy relationships, and even leave your home.

Can you visit someone who is Baker Acted?

Yes, unless having visitors will be harmful to the person being treated. If a facility wants to restrict visitors from a patient, they must file a written notice documenting the refusal of visitation.

How do you Baker Act a minor in Florida?

Baker Acts must be imposed by the courts or law enforcement, or medical/mental health professionals. If a parent wants to have their child Baker Acted, they should petition the Clerk of Court or contact the police.

Do you call 911 to Baker Act someone?

If a person is actively endangering themself or others while showing symptoms of mental illness then the police can be called to manage the situation. Alternatively, a request can be turned into the court to ask that an individual is mentally evaluated due to safety concerns.

Can you Baker Act yourself?

Yes, a Baker Act can be voluntary. However, to willingly Baker Act yourself you must be considered capable of consenting to treatment. To Baker Act yourself, visit an Emergency Room and describe your symptoms to medical professionals. If necessary, the medical staff will request the Baker Act.

What happens after a Baker Act?

When a person is Baker Acted in Florida they are taken to a mental health hospital that is also a Baker Act receiving facility. A mental evaluation must be performed within 72 hours. After 72 hours if deemed mentally stable the person will be released. If further treatment is mandated, the individual can be admitted to a mental health facility for up to six months.

What does it take to Baker Act someone in Florida?

To be Backer Acted in Florida a person must meet certain criteria. The individual must be showing signs of mental illness, a failure to understand why an evaluation may be needed, and/or posing a threat to themselves or others. Usually, a Baker Act is used in response to a mental health emergency. A Baker Act can be started by medical professionals, the court system, and law enforcement.

What does Baker Acted mean?

Usually, being Baker Acted means that a person was admitted to a mental health hospital to be mentally assessed. The time a person can be held during the Baker Act is 72 hours.

DO YOU TAKE INSURANCE?

Yes, we do take insurance, give us a call for a free insurance verification.

HOW LONG DOES TREATMENT LAST?

Treatment can vary from a few days to months. Research shows that the longer a person remains in treatment, the greater the likelihood that long-term recovery will result. As with most aspects of treatment (such as therapy types and program structures), determining ideal length of stay involves an analysis of a number of personal factors.

WHAT TYPES OF THERAPIES ARE USED IN TREATMENT?

Please see our treatments under Programs and Services here

WILL MY FAMILY BE INVOLVED IN MY TREATMENT?

Family involvement is an integral component of an effective treatment program. Though every recovery experience is unique and personal, most effective treatment programs will encourage strong family involvement.

WHAT ARE THE VISITING HOURS AT PORT ST LUCIE HOSPITAL?

Behavioral Services visiting hours, Wed 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Sat 1:45 pm - 3:15 pm, Sunday 1:45 pm - 3:15 pm

Benzo Detox: What to Expect During Withdrawal - Port St. Lucie Hospital, Inc.

Benzodiazepines (or “benzos”) stand among the most commonly prescribed medications for anxiety and insomnia. Unfortunately, they also double as being among the most difficult to stop using. Because of this, those looking to quit benzos should consider a medical detox. A medical benzo detox can help individuals cope with benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms in a safe, monitored setting.

Whether someone enjoys the effects of benzos or wishes to avoid the discomforts of withdrawal, their continued use can evolve into a dangerous addiction. And it’s a growing issue; from 2019 to 2020, the number of benzo-related overdoses increased by almost 24 percent. As the abuse of such a widespread class of medications continues to grow, it becomes more important than ever to provide support for those looking to halt their benzo use.

Contents

What Is Benzodiazepine Withdrawal?

Benzodiazepine withdrawal occurs whenever someone suddenly stops taking benzos. Generally, this is because of a newfound drug dependence. The body comes to rely on benzos for the modulation of GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid), a neurotransmitter responsible for mood, stress, and sleep regulation. As a result, when someone attempts a benzo detox, the body struggles to process GABA adequately on its own.

Compared to other drugs, the period of time it takes for an individual to develop a benzo dependence is rather short. They may only have to take benzos for two to three weeks to experience withdrawal symptoms upon trying to quit. This makes benzo detox even more essential for those trying to quit these drugs.

Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms may include:

Irritability
Panic attacks
Tremors
Sweating
Trouble concentrating
Dry heaving
Nausea
Weight loss
Heart palpitations
Headache
Muscle aches/stiffness
Seizures
Psychosis

Typically, benzos work best on a short-term, as-needed basis. Used this way, they can help soothe symptoms of acute episodes of anxiety and insomnia. However, short-acting benzodiazepines like these are also more addictive and easier to abuse than their longer-acting counterparts, which can create an immediate need for benzo detox.

The Rebound Effect

When someone stops taking a medication prescribed to treat anxiety or insomnia, they may experience a resurgence of those symptoms. In some cases, this spike of anxiety or poor sleep may even feel more severe than it did prior to taking medications.

Benzos ease symptoms of anxiety and insomnia, but they do not treat the underlying causes of either. Therefore, if someone stops using them while their source of stress is still present or without having sought additional treatment, they may fall down the same path as before.

Known as “the rebound effect,” or simply rebound anxiety and insomnia, such experiences exist as one of the unfortunate side effects of benzo detox. Furthermore, the added anxiety of detox is often responsible for making the rebound effect more intense than someone’s original symptoms.

Benzo Detox Treatment Programs

Due to the harsh withdrawal process, finding the right type of support for a safe benzo detox is crucial. Many feel intimidated by the potential side effects, but remember that anyone can successfully stop using benzos. It only requires knowing where to go for the proper environment, resources, and overall aid.

Benzo Detox at Home

Some individuals wonder about the possibility of undergoing a benzodiazepine detox at home. The comforts of their own living spaces can feel more inviting and safe than a clinical facility. However, ample reasons exist as to why someone should avoid detoxing alone.

Firstly, someone who attempts a benzo detox at home has a much higher chance of relapsing. Presumably, they still possess benzo medications. Thus, when they experience adverse withdrawal symptoms, the immediate availability of benzos may tempt them into breaking their detox to escape their discomfort.

Furthermore, the withdrawal symptoms in question can pose a threat to untrained, isolated individuals. While severe side effects like seizures are rare, their lethality depends on how quickly and effectively they are addressed when they do occur. Without a benzo detox program, someone could find themself in a life-threatening situation.

In other words, individuals are much safer in the care of medical professionals than they would be on their own. Licensed physicians know the warning signs of detox complications as well as how to prevent them from worsening to a truly dangerous extent.

Medical Detox

The safest method of detoxing from benzos involves a medically supervised program, such as the one offered at Port St. Lucie Hospital. Our medical benzo detox equips our patients with a plethora of benefits and advantages they can’t gain elsewhere.

Patients undergo detox in a comfortable, peaceful environment. Most importantly, they lose easy access to benzos. This eliminates the risk of immediate relapse and encourages patients to commit to the detox. In a tranquil setting such as ours, they can push aside any other worries as well and focus solely on recovery.

In addition, in the event that someone’s detox experiences poses a health risk, our team can ensure their safety. With trained doctors and nurses on 24/7 standby, any complications meet a swift and effective response.

For interested and eligible patients, our benzo detox program also offers medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Please note, though, that we will never force anyone to take supplementary medications against their will.

If someone wishes to undergo a gentler withdrawal process, we may prescribe a tapering dosage of Ativan. MAT allows the body to adjust to the absence of benzodiazepines in a gradual manner. In turn, this decreases the overall severity of withdrawal symptoms and makes them easier to manage.

What Happens After Benzo Detox?

For some, the journey to achieve long-term sobriety may not end with benzo detox. Should someone need additional support to overcome benzo addiction, they may explore further treatment programs, such as dual diagnosis treatment.

At Port St. Lucie Hospital, our dual diagnosis program serves individuals with co-occurring substance abuse problems and mental health conditions. These are especially common in those with benzo addictions, as benzos are often used to treat anxiety.

Anxiety can be a freestanding condition or a symptom of another mental illness. In either case, when it coexists with substance abuse, it can improve with dual diagnosis treatment.

Our dual diagnosis program consists of numerous evidence-based treatment options, such as:

Psychiatric evaluation
Individual therapy
Group therapy
Educational counseling for family members
Supplemental therapies
12-step programming
Medication management and education
Relapse prevention
Links to community resources (i.e. support groups)

Even if someone successfully stops using benzos for anxiety, the rebound effect and residual anxious feelings may make it difficult to remain sober. For this reason, it is vital to seek treatment for the root cause behind their benzo usage.

Dual diagnosis treatment accomplishes this by teaching patients about crucial life skills and healthy coping mechanisms. As they participate in a variety of therapeutic activities after benzo detox, patients learn how to manage their symptoms, communicate their needs, and regain control of their everyday lives.

Detox from Benzos at Port St. Lucie Hospital

The benzo detox program at Port St. Lucie Hospital prioritizes patient comfort and safety. Other treatment facilities may provide a secure place to detox but fail to offer medical assistance, or vice versa. At Port St. Lucie Hospital, however, we implement world-class care on every front.

Here, patients can fully immerse themselves in a peaceful setting and focus solely on self-improvement. They can enter detox with a calm and confident mindset, for they know their status is constantly monitored by a team of experienced medical professionals.

When you’re ready to undergo a medical benzo detox, call our admissions experts at (772) 335-0400 or submit a confidential contact form online. We can help you confront addiction or prolonged benzodiazepine usage today. With our support and wealth of resources, you can overcome any mental health challenge.

Benzo Detox: What to Expect During Withdrawal