Withdrawing from Benzodiazepines: Symptoms, Safety, and Treatment

Physical symptoms like nausea, increased heart rate, sweating, and cravings are common. Those withdrawing from long-acting benzodiazepines may start noticing symptoms during this period, which can last up to 7 to 10 days. Tapering is the recommended approach for discontinuing benzodiazepines like Xanax.

New medical conditions not previously experienced

Benzodiazepine, or benzo, withdrawal happens when a person suddenly stops taking benzodiazepine drugs, which doctors do not recommend. The withdrawal symptoms, which vary in severity, typically begin within 24 hours and may last from a few days to a few months. Not everyone who undergoes benzodiazepine withdrawal will experience seizures. However, individuals who have a history of seizures or have used high doses of benzodiazepines for an extended period may be at higher risk.

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Instances are also reported within the high-dosage category of more serious developments such as seizures and psychotic reactions. Withdrawal from normal dosage benzodiazepine treatment can result in a number of symptomatic patterns. The most common is a short-lived “rebound” anxiety and insomnia, coming on within 1-4 days of discontinuation, depending on the half-life of the particular drug. The second pattern is the full-blown withdrawal syndrome, usually lasting days; finally, a third pattern may represent the return of anxiety symptoms which then persist until some form of treatment is instituted.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Timeline

Dopamine is a type of messenger that is partly responsible for how humans feel pleasure. Along with these symptoms, the person may experience severe cravings for the drug or other drugs to sedate them. Withdrawal symptoms may begin after as little as 3–6 weeks of use, even when a person uses the drugs as the doctor directed. Individuals may also benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy approaches, such as stimulus control and sleep restriction. Stimulus control involves changing the sleep environment to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety, while sleep restriction involves limiting the amount of time spent in bed to increase sleep efficiency.

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Practices such as drug tapering or using other drugs to help ease withdrawal may make early withdrawal symptoms milder and more Substance abuse manageable. In severe cases, benzodiazepine withdrawal can lead to seizures, a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. During benzodiazepine withdrawal, individuals may experience memory and concentration issues. They may find it difficult to focus on tasks, recall information, or multitask. Many patients seek Valium to taper, as it is required to follow the Ashton Manual, which is one method of safer benzodiazepine cessation.

Sign 3: Physical Symptoms and Discomfort

However, if it’s close to the time for your next scheduled dose, you should skip the missed dose and resume your regular dosing schedule. They will guide you based on your unique medication regimen, dosage, and overall treatment plan. Together, we’ll identify strategies and solutions that can help you stay on track and maintain your progress toward wellness. Stopping benzodiazepines cold turkey poses significant health risks, including severe withdrawal symptoms, potential seizures, and long-lasting central nervous system damage. Such dangers underscore the importance of professional medical supervision and the use of tapering strategies to minimize withdrawal complications. By prioritizing safely-managed withdrawal methods, individuals can reduce the risk of relapse and improve recovery outcomes.

• Over the past several months, she had been taking more alprazolam during the day and at bedtime, because it had not been working as well as when initially prescribed.
• Our mission is to raise awareness, connect and educate pain sufferers, caregivers, healthcare providers and the public about the pain experience.
• They want to make the diagnosis and often feel put off by patients who present with a complaint and a diagnosis.
• The approach to long-term treatment post-withdrawal is tailored to your unique circumstances, particularly the initial reasons for taking benzodiazepines and your motivations for discontinuing them.
• Benzodiazepines are a powerful class of medication used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and panic disorder.

For example, temazepam and oxazepam are metabolites of diazepam, which may lead the practitioner to conclude that the patient had been taking other benzodiazepines during diazepam treatment. Urine drug screening should be used as a tool to engage the patient rather than as a punitive measure. The choice of approach depends on an assessment of the risk of harm and relapse. Low-risk patients can be managed in general practice and may benefit most from attempting withdrawal.

This can make it increasingly difficult to discontinue the medication, as abruptly benzo withdrawal timeline stopping can result in a range of unpleasant and potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms. If you’ve taken benzodiazepines at high doses for an extended period, you may experience long-term withdrawal symptoms, also called post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) or protracted withdrawal. It may take months or even years to recover from these syndromes, so prevention is important. This phenomenon has also been reported to occur in some people discontinuing other medications like opiates or SSRIs.

Benzodiazepine Tapering Strategies and Solutions provides an overview of safer tapers. Withdrawal symptoms may be mild in people who take the drugs for short periods. However, there is still a possibility of severe reactions and withdrawal symptoms. Research in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology notes that an estimated 10–25% of people who use benzos for extended periods experience withdrawal symptoms that last for 12 months or longer. Withdrawal symptoms from short-acting drugs, such as Xanax, may come on faster than withdrawal symptoms from long-acting drugs, such as Valium. It is important to be aware of these symptoms and to seek medical help if they become severe.

Rebound anxiety isn’t an automatic given when you stop taking benzodiazepines, but the possibility exists. Working with your doctor or psychiatrist to gradually reduce your dose can help lower your risk. When rebounding anxiety symptoms stick around, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ a therapist can teach helpful coping strategies and offer more guidance on potential treatments, including other medication options.

Physiological dependence on benzodiazepines can occur following prolonged treatment with therapeutic doses, but it is not clear what proportion of patients are likely to experience a withdrawal syndrome. It is also unknown to what extent the risk of physiological dependence is dependent upon a minimum duration of exposure or dosage of these drugs. Withdrawal phenomena appear to be more severe following withdrawal from high doses or short-acting benzodiazepines. Dependence on alcohol or other sedatives may increase the risk of benzodiazepine dependence, but it has proved difficult to demonstrate unequivocally differences in the relative abuse potential of individual benzodiazepines. At MAPS for Recovery, we understand the complexities of benzodiazepine dependence and withdrawal. Benzodiazepines, often prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and other medical conditions, carry significant risks when discontinued abruptly or without medical supervision.

That’s what makes it essential to stop taking benzodiazepines slowly, with support from a medical professional. Remember, dealing with benzo withdrawal and sedative use disorder is something you should do with professional guidance and a customized plan. Withdrawing from benzodiazepines, commonly referred to as benzos, can trigger a mix of physical and psychological symptoms. There is near-complete uniformity of opinion both in the medical profession and in the benzodiazepine recovery community that abrupt  is a dangerous and unacceptable method of benzodiazepine withdrawal.