In search of a luxury rehab for Onfi addiction? Read our helpful guide.
Table of Contents
1. What is Onfi and What is it Used For?
2. Other Names for Onfi
3. How Onfi Addiction Happens
4. Onfi Symptoms, Side Effects, and Risks
5. Onfi Overdose Signs
6.Onfi Addiction Symptoms and Signs
7. How Onfi Addiction is Treated
8. How Long Does Onfi Stay in Your System?
9. Managing Onfi Withdrawal Symptoms Safely
10. What to Look for in an Onfi Rehab and Treatment Program
11. Choosing Between Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment
12. Onfi Rehab Should Include Aftercare
13. Reaching out for Onfi Addiction Help
Onfi addiction is a very serious behavioral health issue. This benzodiazepine and sedative, which is used to treat seizure disorders, is susceptible to abuse and can cause addiction, especially when misused. Onfi addiction symptoms include use of the drug that has become excessive or out of control, as well as physical side effects like developing a tolerance and going through withdrawal when not using.
If you have developed an addiction to Onfi, or you are trying to help a loved one who has, you need to carefully consider rehabilitation options. Not all Onfi addiction treatment plans are the same or best for everyone. Know what to look for in the best rehabs, what your options are, and then make a considered choice that will help lead to recovery.
What is Onfi and What is it Used For?
Onfi is the generic drug clobazam, a prescription medication used to manage seizures in people with the disease known as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Onfi belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. These are sedatives and central nervous system depressants. Clobazam helps prevent seizures by slowing down or lowering electrical activity in the brain. Doctors may use their own discretion to prescribe Onfi for other uses.
As a central nervous system depressant, Onfi produces relaxation and calm. Other drugs in the same class are used to manage anxiety. Other effects of Onfi are lowered heart rate, slower breathing, and sleepiness or drowsiness.
Other Names for Onfi
Onfi is a brand name for clobazam, which is a generic drug. Another brand name that clobazam is sold under is Sympazan. When bought, sold, and used illicitly, Onfi may go by any number of street names for benzodiazepines:
- Bars
- Benzos
- Chill pills
- Downers
- Footballs
- Hulk
- Ladders
- Nerve pills
- Planks
- School bus
- Sleeping pills
- Totem poles
- Tranks
How Onfi Addiction Happens
Onfi is listed as a schedule IV controlled substance. The Drug Enforcement Administration placed Onfi in this category because it is susceptible to abuse and may become habit forming. In other words, Onfi abuse, and even just regular, guided use, can lead to an addiction.
You may develop on Onfi dependence with normal, recommended use of the drug. Your body and brain adjust to it, and you will find that you don’t feel well without it in your system. This leads you to use again, and the cycle continues.
Addiction can also develop when you misuse Onfi. Any kind of Onfi abuse will significantly increase the risk of addiction and dependence, as compared to using it as directed by your doctor. Misuse includes using Onfi without having a prescription for it and using it in any way that is different from what your doctor has instructed if you do have a prescription: taking it for longer than you are supposed to, taking larger doses, and using it more frequently.
Onfi Symptoms, Side Effects, and Risks
One of the negative consequences of misusing Onfi is the fact that doing so can increase your risk of experiencing side effects and adverse events. You may also experience side effects more intensely or those that are more severe and serious. The most common Onfi side effects are:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Drooling
- Poor coordination
- Restlessness
- Aggression
- Difficulty swallowing
- Tremors
- Fever
There are also some more serious Onfi effects to consider. They include difficulty urinating or pain when urinating, a cough and difficulty breathing, a skin rash or mouth sores, and mood swings that may include depression, irritability, and apathy.
One rare but very serious side effect of Onfi is suicidal thoughts. Approximately one in 500 people who used clobazam during clinical trials became suicidal. This side effect set in within a week of beginning the medication. Although this danger is not common, it can be fatal, and if you are abusing Onfi you increase the risk that you may have these feelings and troubling mood swings.
Of course, because Onfi is a benzodiazepine that his habit-forming, addiction is a major risk of misuse. You may think that you have your use of Onfi under control, but using it in a way that is not prescribed or recommended can always lead to use that becomes out of control, and ultimately dependence.
Onfi Overdose Signs
Misusing and becoming addicted to Onfi puts you at serious risk of having an overdose. An overdose occurs when you take toxic levels of a drug. There is no set amount of clobazam that will necessarily trigger an overdose. The risk varies depending on how long you have been using the drug, the severity of your addiction, how much you take, and other individual health factors.
The risk of overdose is definitely increased by taking Onfi with certain other substances. Alcohol, sedatives, opioids, and other benzodiazepines all produce similar effects to Onfi. Mixing these increases the risk and severity of side effects but also of overdose. Drugs like these, which act like depressants, can suppress brain activity to the extent that you stop breathing.
An Onfi overdose can easily be fatal, and it should be treated as a medical emergency. Make sure you know the overdose signs so you can get help for you or someone else if necessary:
- Excessive drowsiness and sleepiness
- Unresponsiveness
- Confusion
- Low energy
- Difficulty controlling movements and poor coordination
- Blurred vision
- Shallow breathing
- Reduced urge to breathe
- Fainting
Onfi Addiction Symptoms and Signs
There are many risks associated with misusing Onfi, and they include becoming addicted. Misuse does not necessarily mean you are addicted, but you may become dependent on this drug more quickly than you realize. When your use of it has gotten out of control, you may need help. The criteria used to diagnose a substance use disorder can help you understand if your behaviors, or those of someone you’re worried about, are problematic:
- You crave Onfi at times when you are not using it.
- You try to cut back or stop using clobazam but keep failing at it.
- More than once you have used more than you planned.
- A significant amount of your time is spent getting high or trying to get more Onfi.
- This has forced you to give up some other activities you no longer have time for.
- You also have too little time to meet your responsibilities, and they are starting to slide.
- Your relationships are in trouble because of drug use.
- You have developed some physical or mental health problems related to Onfi but continue to use it.
- You have used Onfi in situations that put you at risk, such as when driving or operating equipment that could lead to an accident.
- You have developed a tolerance and need to use more and more to get high.
- You go through Onfi withdrawal symptoms when not using.
A mental or behavioral health specialist could diagnose you as having a mild substance use disorder with just two or three of these criteria. Even if you aren’t sure you would be diagnosed or if you think you wouldn’t, your concern about these behaviors is valid. Don’t hesitate to reach out or call for help if you can’t stop using Onfi on your own.
How Onfi Addiction is Treated
Rehab facilities plan treatment programs for Onfi addiction around therapy. There is no medication approved to treat benzodiazepine dependence, but other strategies are effective. While different facilities may offer unique services and a different range of therapy options, most revolve around behavioral therapies. Some of the types used to manage this addiction and to support recovery are:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy. Also known as CBT, this is an action-oriented therapy. CBT helps you change your negative thought and behavior patterns, set and work toward goals, plan for and practice encountering triggers, and minimize your risk of relapse.
- Motivational interviewing. This style of therapy is focused on helping you find internal motivation for stopping drug use and adopting more positive, healthy behaviors.
- Contingency management therapy. Specifically designed for treating addiction, this kind of therapy makes use of positive reinforcement to encourage desired behaviors, namely avoiding drug use. Essentially, you get rewards for abstaining.
- Somatic experiencing therapy. Some patients being treated for addiction have traumatic experiences from their pasts that have shaped their behaviors. Trauma-focused therapies can help in the healing process. Somatic experiencing therapy uses the physical sensations of your body to process trauma.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. This kind of therapy, known as EMDR, is also for processing traumatic experiences. It uses guided eye and body movements to reframe past trauma.
- Family and relationship therapy and psychoeducation. Having a positive and informed support system is important for recovery. Therapy with family or partners can help them understand how to help you. Psychoeducation also includes learning more about drug addiction.
- Group therapy and support. Many rehab facilities and treatment programs include some form of social support. You may engage in therapy in a group with other people struggling with Onfi and other drug use. Or you may attend support group meetings, which are less structured and not necessarily guided by a therapist.
How Long Does Onfi Stay in Your System?
Onfi and other benzodiazepines will last in the body for different lengths of time, depending on several factors. These include the amount you used. The greater your last dose, the longer it will take to clear your system. The time it takes to get the drug out of your body is known as detox, and it is the important first step to recovery from addiction.
The Onfi withdrawal effects that you can expect during detox may be uncomfortable and painful, but they can also be dangerous. A condition known as benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome is dangerous and can even be fatal. You should never attempt to detox alone, and you should always do it with medical supervision. Stopping use of Onfi suddenly can bring about this syndrome and put you in serious risk of becoming ill or even dying.
The most dangerous Onfi withdrawal side effects are psychosis and seizures. These warrant immediate medical attention. The uncomfortable but less serious withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, tremors, insomnia, muscle spasms, weight loss, mood swings, sweating, vision problems, changes in perceptions, and nausea and vomiting.
Managing Onfi Withdrawal Symptoms Safely
Onfi detox is a necessary first step to recovery, and something you must go through in order to be ready for treatment, but it is difficult and dangerous. In addition to the particular risks of benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome, detox puts you at risk of relapsing. A relapse during this vulnerable time can cause you to use too much, mix substances, and potentially overdose.
The only safe way to detox from clobazam is to do it with some kind of professional supervision. Many detox programs gradually reduce the dose of a benzodiazepine during withdrawal. This makes the entire process much safer and reduces the severity of withdrawal symptoms. There are no medications or specific treatments that will make withdrawal faster or easier.
Not all rehab facilities offer detox services, but they do generally require that you go through detox before starting a treatment program. You need supervision to do this safely, so instead of attempting to go it alone, find a service that will provide medically-directed and guided detox. A medical caregiver can keep you safe, administer treatment if something goes wrong, and generally help you feel more comfortable through the entire process.
What to Look for in an Onfi Rehab and Treatment Program
Onfi treatment for addiction is essential for recovery. Getting over an addiction is extremely difficult to do without professional support. You need the expertise, guidance, and push that addiction professionals can provide to prevent relapsing and to give you the tools to stay sober for the long-term. This means you need rehab and an effective treatment program. There are several factors you should consider when choosing that program.
One of these is the staff. A good treatment program will include experts with experience working in addiction and recovery. They should be caring and compassionate and have the best interests first in mind in the work they do. A good rehab facility will be staffed by a variety of experts who can provide a range of services, from therapy and medical care to nutrition, alternative therapies, and recreation. Never choose a residential facility that does not have some kind of medical staff, such as nurses on the floor around the clock. Medical supervision is important.
Another important factor to consider when choosing treatment and rehab is a thorough intake process. When you first enter rehab you should be given a complete evaluation that includes screening for mental illnesses. The most effective treatment for a drug addiction addresses all of your needs, and mental health conditions often co-occur with Onfi and other substance use disorders.
The initial evaluation should be thorough and should inform an individualized treatment plan. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all drug addiction treatment. The best rehabs create a new, unique plan for each individual patient. It should be informed by your health issues, your drug addiction, your mental health, and your own preferences. Be sure that the treatment program you choose will take your input seriously and let you make decisions about your own care. Being a part of treatment will make it more effective in the long-term.
In order to provide an individualized treatment plan, a treatment program or facility must have a wide variety of services. Avoid any rehab that has just one or two types of therapy or limited support services. You need to be able to try the different types of treatment to find what works best for your needs. For instance, you may not respond well to motivational interviewing or you may benefit from trauma-focused therapy. There should also be a range of support services, like diet and nutrition planning, exercise, and recreation.
Choosing Between Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment
Knowing what to look for in the best Onfi rehab, you now need to choose between an outpatient and inpatient program. The benefits of residential care include 24-hour supervision, a safe, temptation-free environment, a wider range of services and therapy types, and a bigger staff. Residential care also offers you the opportunity to focus on recovery without the distractions of home and provides a social support system and interactions with other residents.
On the other hand, outpatient treatment can be helpful to your Onfi recovery if you feel more comfortable at home or with family. This may make you more receptive to treatment. It can also allow you to keep up with responsibilities, like family and work. If you feel as if you need the safety of a structured environment, though, and that you are at high risk for a relapse, seriously consider going to a residential rehab instead.
You can find some middle ground with an intensive outpatient program. This is a treatment plan that allows you to stay home but to get more intense care than you would with just a couple of therapy sessions per week. In this kind of program you may have sessions every day, and you are likely to benefit from a greater variety of services and therapy types as well.
Onfi Rehab Should Include Aftercare
The best rehab facilities will have some type of aftercare services or planning. If you go to a residential rehab you will need to transition back home after receiving treatment. This can be a tough time, when many people succumb to cravings and relapse. With aftercare, which may be therapy, support groups, or other strategies, you can minimize the risk of a relapse and have a safer, better transition.
Even if your particular rehab does not include aftercare, it should help you plan for your next steps. The staff should, at a minimum, be able to direct you to a recommended outpatient therapist or drug counselor. They can help you make a concrete plan for what you will do out of rehab, your strategies for avoiding a relapse, and for what to do if a relapse does occur.
Aftercare is not typically necessary with outpatient treatment. You can always continue with outpatient therapy if you feel it is important. You can cut back on your sessions but still go regularly as you transition into recovery. Keeping up with therapy is helpful for long-term success, so even if you feel better and strong, stick with it.
Reaching out for Onfi Addiction Help
Addiction to Onfi is a very difficult problem to overcome. The importance of reaching out for help and calling rehab and treatment programs cannot be overstated. Especially if you have tried quitting and keep failing at it, get real, professional help. You may feel a little lost at this time and unsure of where to turn. Having a loved one to support you is a great help. Let a family member or friend know what you are going through and allow that person to help you figure out what to do next.
You can also make an appointment with a trusted doctor. Your doctor cannot provide the addiction treatment you need, but he or she can point you in the right direction for getting care and offer good advice. Regardless of who you reach out to first, the important thing is that you do it. Ask for help, confide in someone, and seek the rehab and treatment that will get you sober and in recovery. Onfi addiction treatment will be a slow and sometimes frustrating process, but it can lead to successful and lasting recovery if you put in the time and effort.