Sedatives (Treatments)

Patients addicted to barbiturates and benzodiazepines should not attempt to recover on their own, as withdrawal can be problematic, and in the case of certain CNS depressants, potentially life threatening. Although no extensive body of research regarding the treatment of barbiturate and benzodiazepine addiction currently exists, patients addicted to these medications should undergo medically supervised detoxification because the dose must be gradually tapered off. Inpatient or outpatient counseling can help the individual during this process. Cognitive-behavioral therapy also has been used successfully to help individuals adapt to the removal from benzodiazepines.

Often the abuse of barbiturates and benzodiazepines occurs in conjunction with the abuse of another substance or drug, such as alcohol or cocaine. In these cases of polydrug abuse, the treatment approach must address the multiple addictions.

A two-stage approach is often used in treating the addicted patient. First, detoxification of the drug followed by long-term rehabilitation.