Prescription Drug Detox

Benzodiazepines (such as Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin) and prescription opioids (such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl patches) are the prescription medications most likely to require medical supervision during detox. Stopping these suddenly can cause serious complications. Some prescription stimulants and sleep medications may also have significant withdrawal symptoms.

For benzodiazepines and opioids, yes. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause life-threatening seizures if stopped abruptly after long-term use. Opioid withdrawal, while rarely fatal in healthy people, causes severe discomfort that often leads to relapse. Always consult a doctor before stopping or reducing prescription medications.

A taper is a gradual, supervised reduction in medication dosage over a period of weeks or months. For benzodiazepines and some other prescription medications, a slow taper is safer and more comfortable than abrupt discontinuation. A doctor designs the taper schedule based on the medication, your dosage history, and your health.

Physical dependence — where your body needs a medication to function normally — can develop from legitimate, prescribed use. This is different from addiction, though they can overlap. Either way, the withdrawal process is real and managed the same way. There is no judgment in how dependence developed.

Most insurance plans cover medically necessary detox for prescription drug dependence under substance use disorder benefits. We can help you verify what your specific plan covers.