Benzodiazepine Detox in Los Angeles

Medically reviewed by Dr. Eric Chegouri, MD, Medical Director · Last reviewed November 7, 2026

Coming off a benzodiazepine is not a race. For many people the hardest part is not the first day but the fear of what stopping will feel like: the anxiety returning, the nights without sleep, the worry about seizures that a doctor or a search engine has warned them about. A good detox replaces that fear with a plan and with people who are watching over you while it unfolds.

This page describes benzodiazepine detox at Reggie's Recovery in practical terms, for people in Los Angeles and across Southern California: who it is for, how admission works, what the first 72 hours look like, how comfort care and tapering fit together, what insurance usually covers and what happens once you leave detox. For the medical detail on symptoms and timing, see our benzodiazepine withdrawal guide.

Who needs medical benzodiazepine detox?

Benzodiazepine detox is for anyone who has been taking a benzo regularly and wants or needs to stop, whether the pills came from a pharmacy or somewhere else. People who come to us often fit one or more of these situations:

• You take a prescribed benzo daily and feel unwell when a dose is late.
• You take more than prescribed, run out early or see several doctors for refills.
• You buy pills such as "Xanax bars" outside a pharmacy, where they may be counterfeit or contain fentanyl.
• You combine benzos with alcohol, opioids or sleep medications.
• You have tried to cut down on your own and the anxiety, insomnia or shaking became unbearable.
• You have had a withdrawal seizure, or your doctor has told you not to stop without supervision.

Some people taking a stable prescription can taper safely with their own prescriber in an outpatient setting. Inpatient detox is usually recommended when doses are high, use is out of control, other substances are involved, or medical and mental-health risks need round-the-clock monitoring. A clinician makes that decision with you.

How do I get admitted to benzodiazepine detox?

You can call for yourself or for someone you love; no referral is required. Admission follows three steps:

1. Call (818) 355-1200, 24/7. An admissions counselor asks confidential questions about which medications you take, how much and how long, other substances, and your physical and mental health.
2. Insurance verification. With your permission, we check your benefits, usually in 15 to 30 minutes, and explain them before you decide.
3. Arrival. You choose a time to arrive at our Sun Valley campus. If you need help with transportation, we can coordinate it from anywhere in Los Angeles.

Most people finish the process in under two hours and are admitted the same day. It helps to have the names of your medications, roughly how much you take and who prescribes them, since that information shapes your taper. See our admissions page for what to bring.

What happens in the first 72 hours of benzo detox?

Benzodiazepine detox starts differently from detox for many other drugs. Rather than waiting for withdrawal and then treating it, the medical team's first goal is to stabilize you so withdrawal does not spiral.

1. ArrivalAssessment

   Bloodwork, vital signs and a mental-health screening, plus a detailed review of every medication and substance, your dosing pattern and any previous withdrawals or seizures.

2. Day 1Stabilization

   The physician builds your starting plan. In general practice that can mean continuing a benzodiazepine at a stable level, or switching a short-acting benzo to a longer-acting one, so the nervous system is steady before reductions begin.

3. Days 2–3Monitoring and first adjustments

   Nurses track vitals, sleep, anxiety and any signs of withdrawal around the clock. Once you are stable, the physician begins gradual reductions, adjusting the pace to your response.

If you also drink heavily or use opioids, those withdrawals may start during these days and need their own monitoring. Our team treats polysubstance withdrawal as one plan rather than several separate ones.

How is benzodiazepine detox made more comfortable?

Because benzo withdrawal often shows up as anxiety, restlessness and insomnia, the environment matters almost as much as the medication. Comfort care at Reggie's combines both.

Medication decisions, including any taper, are made by your physician based on your medication history and how you respond. We do not publish dosing schedules, and we encourage you not to follow one from the internet.

How long is benzodiazepine detox?

Inpatient detox at Reggie's typically lasts 5 to 10 days. Benzodiazepine detox is a little different from alcohol or opioid detox, though: the inpatient stay is usually where you are stabilized and the taper is started, not always where it ends.

For many people, especially after long-term or high-dose use, a safe taper takes weeks to months. That remaining taper continues under medical supervision while you move into residential treatment and, later, outpatient care. Going slowly is not a setback. It is how a taper stays tolerable and safe.

Is there medication-assisted treatment for benzodiazepines?

Not in the way there is for opioids or alcohol. The FDA has not approved any medication to treat benzodiazepine use disorder itself, so care centers on three things: a gradual taper, medical relief for withdrawal symptoms, and therapy for the anxiety, panic or sleeplessness that drove the use.

Many people who use benzodiazepines also use opioids or alcohol, and for those conditions, medication can help. Through our medication-assisted treatment program, a physician may consider buprenorphine (Suboxone) for opioid use disorder, or naltrexone for alcohol or opioid use disorder when clinically appropriate. Psychiatric medication management can also help find non-benzodiazepine options for anxiety and sleep.

Does insurance cover benzodiazepine detox?

Most PPO insurance plans cover medically necessary detox and treatment for benzodiazepine dependence, at least in part, depending on your plan. Federal parity rules generally require that substance use benefits be comparable to medical benefits.

Checking your benefits costs nothing and typically takes 15 to 30 minutes; we do not contact your employer. HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 protect your treatment records. If you have an HMO, options for our level of care are narrower, and we will point you toward resources that fit your coverage. We generally don't accept Medi-Cal, but if that's your coverage we'll connect you with a provider who does. You can also explore your benefits with our Insurance Decoder or read about insurance at Reggie's.

Where can I find benzodiazepine detox in Los Angeles?

Reggie's Recovery is on a hilltop in Sun Valley, in the northeast San Fernando Valley, with views toward the San Gabriel Mountains. It is a calm setting for a process where calm matters, yet close to Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, North Hollywood and the rest of Los Angeles.

Being nearby makes it easier for family to join family sessions during treatment and for you to stay connected to outpatient care at Reggie's Treatment Center afterward. See the communities we serve on our areas we serve page, including Pasadena and North Hollywood.

What happens after benzodiazepine detox?

Most people move directly from detox into residential treatment on the same campus, typically for 30 to 90 days. That gives the taper time to continue safely while you work on what led to benzodiazepine use in the first place.

Dual-diagnosis care is especially important after benzodiazepine detox, because untreated anxiety or insomnia is one of the main reasons people return to the medication. For a broader overview, see our benzodiazepine addiction treatment guide, or the signs of benzodiazepine addiction if you are still deciding whether help is needed.