Rohypnol Detox

What Is Rohypnol Detox?

Rohypnol detox is the first step towards recovery for Rohypnol addiction. Rohypnol, also known as Flunitrazepam, is a Benzodiazepine about 10 times stronger than Valium. Rohypnol is widely available in Europe and Latin America but is currently illegal in the United States. This is mostly due to the drug’s dangerous possible side effects. Infamously known as the “date rape drug,” Rohypnol can significantly impair and even eliminate functions that normally allow a person to resist or want to resist sexual aggression or assault. In high doses, the drug can cause lack of muscle control, amnesia, loss of inhibitions, and loss of consciousness. Sedation occurs within 30 minutes after ingestion and as little as 1 mg can impair an individual for 8-12 hours. Larger doses can cause effects such as sedation for as long as 26 hours.

Similar to other Benzodiazepines, Rohypnol has a high potential for dependence and addiction. It’s regularly prescribed in Europe and Latin America to treat insomnia, anxiety, sleep disorders, seizures, and restless leg syndrome, but many will misuse the drug because of its sedative properties. Rohypnol is relatively inexpensive to buy on the street and is popular in dance clubs among young people. It is most commonly misused by college students, rave party attendees, gang members, and drug addicts to intensify the feeling of intoxication, boost the effects of Heroin, and lessen the effects of Cocaine. Most users of Rohypnol are between the ages of 13 and 30, and the majority are male.

The first step in treating a Rohypnol addiction is detox, or detoxification. Detox is used to safely rid the body of the Benzodiazepine drug so that a user may proceed to the next stage of addiction treatment. Rohypnol detox should never be done alone or without the supervision of a medical professional as the effects of withdrawal can be severely debilitating.

The Process Of Rohypnol Detox

To treat and break an individual’s physical and psychological dependence on the drug, it is important to reduce Rohypnol dosage over time. This type of detox is known as the tapering off method; a doctor will gradually reduce the dose taken over the course of a few weeks to a month until use eventually stops completely. It is never recommended that someone attempt to stop taking Rohypnol by themselves, or quit “cold turkey,” because drastically decreasing use can result in the development of withdrawal symptoms, some of which may be fatal.

Medically-supervised detox is the safest way to detox as it allows the recovering user to withdraw from Rohypnol in a secure environment under the watchful eye of trained medical professionals. Doctors will commonly prescribe Benzodiazepines and other sedatives for withdrawal symptoms such anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia, as well as include holistic and therapeutic approaches they believe will help a patient recover. Round-the-clock medical monitoring and management of withdrawal symptoms are just two of the many reasons medically-supervised detox is the safest choice.

Rohypnol Withdrawal Symptoms

The withdrawal process from Rohypnol can be extremely dangerous, and even life-threatening. Symptoms begin between 10 and 26 hours after the last dose, and the severity of withdrawal will depend on a number of factors, such as an individual’s drug dependency, timeframe of use, and psychological state.

Common Rohypnol withdrawal symptoms include:

• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Sweating
• Weight loss
• Irritability
• Muscle tension and pain
• Headaches
• Numbness
• Restlessness
• Mood swings
• Shaking
• Trembling

Severe Rohypnol withdrawal symptoms include:

• Convulsions
• Depression
• Panic attacks
• Dehydration
• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Loss of identity
• Delirium
• Seizures

One of the most dangerous symptoms that an individual can experience after quitting Rohypnol is seizures. Seizures caused by withdrawal may occur more than a week after use has stopped. Seizures can permanently damage the brain or even cause death in more severe cases. Due to the dangerous nature of Rohypnol withdrawal, it is imperative that detox be conducted under the supervision of a medical professional.

Rohypnol Withdrawal Timeline

The timeline for withdrawal can vary depending on how long a recovering user has been abusing Rohypnol, how much Rohypnol they used, how they used it, any underlying medical or mental health issues, and whether they took any other substances. The length of withdrawal can typically last anywhere from a 5 days to a few weeks. As with other Benzodiazepines, Rohypnol withdrawal can be split up into two phases: acute withdrawal phase and protracted withdrawal phase.

Acute Phase

The acute phase of Rohypnol withdrawal can be expected to last 5 to 10 days following discontinuation of the drug. During this initial stage, an individual will experience the majority of the common withdrawal side effects, such as the nausea, headaches, fatigue, and anxiety. There is the potential for the development of seizures during this time as well, which can be potentially fatal. As a result, the person should be given immediate medical attention.

Protracted Phase

The protracted phase of Rohypnol withdrawal, also known as Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome or PAWS, occurs following the acute withdrawal phase and can last anywhere from a few weeks to  18 months. It is characterized by wave-like occurrences of symptoms that then alternates with periods of normality that gradually extend in frequency until complete recovery. Milder manifestations of nausea, fatigue, shakiness, depression, anxiety, and cravings will continue over this time period. Additionally, irritability, restlessness, panic attacks, mood swings, sadness, and a low tolerance for frustration often occur.

Find a Rohypnol Detox Program Today

If you or a loved one are addicted to Rohypnol, detox is a necessary first step before undergoing treatment. In addition to helping users safely stop using the drug, many detox centers also provide mental health and polysubstance dependence services.  A comprehensive treatment and medical detox program offers a person struggling with Rohypnol addiction hope. To learn about Rohypnol detox options, contact a treatment provider.