Benzo and Alcohol Withdrawal: What to Know
Withdrawing from benzodiazepines and alcohol together raises serious medical risk. Here is why, and how supervised detox keeps it safe.
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Why Combined Benzo and Alcohol Use Is Common
Alcohol and benzodiazepines act on the same calming system in the brain, so each can seem to relieve the effects of the other. Someone who drinks to take the edge off anxiety may also take a benzodiazepine, and vice versa.
Benzodiazepines are also used medically to treat alcohol withdrawal, so some people first receive them during detox and then keep taking them. Over time, the combination can deepen dependence on both substances.
The pairing is dangerous even before withdrawal. Together they depress breathing and judgment far more than either alone, which raises the risk of overdose, falls, and accidents.
Why Withdrawing From Both at Once Carries Higher Risk
Alcohol withdrawal and benzodiazepine withdrawal each carry a risk of seizures and delirium. When someone is dependent on both, those risks add together, and symptoms can be harder to separate and treat.
Alcohol withdrawal can be severe on its own, with tremor, sweating, a racing heart, and in some people delirium tremens. Stopping both at once, abruptly, can be especially dangerous.
Because of this, combined withdrawal should be managed in a medical setting with continuous monitoring rather than at home.
Get emergency help for
- A seizure or convulsion
- Confusion, delirium, or hallucinations
- Severe tremor, high fever, or heavy sweating
- Chest pain or a very rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Thoughts of suicide or self-harm (call or text 988)
Medical Detox Protocol
Every plan is individualized. A supervised detox for combined use typically includes the following.
Assessment
A medical and psychiatric review of how much of each substance you use, how long, and any past seizures or withdrawal.
Symptom monitoring
Round-the-clock clinical monitoring using standard withdrawal assessments so dangerous symptoms are treated early.
Medication management
Medications chosen to manage withdrawal from both substances, which may include benzodiazepine-based management, longer-acting substitution, and, in select cases, phenobarbital, with nutritional support such as thiamine when appropriate.
Taper and treatment
As you stabilize, any benzodiazepine taper continues gradually while therapy and dual diagnosis care begin.
Treatment continues beyond detox, with relapse-prevention work for both substances. See our alcohol rehab program and benzo detox pages.
Insurance and Cost
iRely Recovery works with most major PPO plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana, usually on an out-of-network basis. What you pay depends on your plan, your benefits, and the level of care you need.
We verify benefits for free, typically in about five to ten minutes, and explain what your plan is expected to cover before you decide anything. You can also start with our insurance verification page.
Admissions
Starting treatment is simpler than most people expect. Here is how admission works, from first call to first day.
Call or send the form
A confidential conversation, available 24/7, with someone who can answer your questions and explain your options.
Insurance verification
We check your PPO benefits at no cost, typically in about five to ten minutes.
Clinical assessment
A short assessment of your medication history, health, and mental health sets the level of care and the plan.
Arrival and welcome
You settle into our home-like residence in Sherwood Forest with clinical support around the clock.
You can also reach us through the admissions page.
Benzo and Alcohol Withdrawal Questions
Straight answers to the questions people ask most.
Is it dangerous to quit benzos and alcohol at the same time?
Yes. Both can cause seizures and delirium when stopped abruptly, and the risks add together. Combined withdrawal should be managed with medical supervision.
Why do people use benzos and alcohol together?
Both calm the nervous system, so each can seem to ease the effects of the other. Some people also continue benzodiazepines they first received during alcohol detox.
Can alcohol withdrawal cause seizures?
Yes. Seizures and delirium tremens are risks of alcohol withdrawal, especially after heavy, long-term drinking. Medical monitoring greatly lowers those risks.
How is combined withdrawal treated?
With a medical assessment, continuous monitoring, and medications chosen for both substances. A longer-acting benzodiazepine or, in select cases, phenobarbital may be used, and any benzodiazepine taper continues gradually afterward.
Can I detox from both at home?
Not safely. Combined withdrawal carries a higher risk and should be supervised in a medical setting.
How long does combined detox take?
It depends on your use and health. Acute alcohol withdrawal usually peaks within days, while benzodiazepine withdrawal can take weeks. A clinical assessment sets your plan.
What happens after detox?
Detox is the first step. iRely follows it with therapy, dual diagnosis care, and relapse-prevention planning for both alcohol and benzodiazepines.
Does insurance cover this care at iRely?
Most PPO plans are accepted, usually out of network. Call 818-262-3537 and we will verify your benefits for free, typically in about five to ten minutes.
Sources & Further Reading
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2020). FDA requiring Boxed Warning updated to improve safe use of benzodiazepine drug class. Drug Safety Communication, September 23, 2020.
- American Society of Addiction Medicine and partner societies (2025). Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering.
- SAMHSA. Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 45.
- American Society of Addiction Medicine (2020). Clinical Practice Guideline on Alcohol Withdrawal Management.
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol Withdrawal and Alcohol and Medications.
Need Help With Benzos and Alcohol?
iRely Recovery offers medically supervised benzodiazepine detox and treatment in a small, confidential setting. Our team is available around the clock to answer your questions and start your intake.
Our admissions team answers 24 hours a day, every day.
818-262-3537We will reach out at a time that works for you. No commitment, no judgment.
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