Withdrawing from Benzodiazepines: Symptoms, Safety, and Treatment
Proper management with therapy, antidepressants, or transitional agents like buspirone and carbamazepine can help regulate these symptoms in an outpatient clinic like Sullivan Recovery. In addition, over half of the survey respondents said benzodiazepines’ side effects or withdrawal symptoms caused them to consider suicide. If you take an benzodiazepines withdrawal symptoms intermediate-acting benzodiazepine, like alprazolam, or a long-acting benzodiazepine, like diazepam, it may take longer for withdrawal symptoms to appear. If you want to stop taking benzodiazepines after consistent long-term use, your doctor can help you gradually taper off your medication. Tapering can help take the edge off withdrawal symptoms like tremors and nausea, though it may not prevent withdrawal symptoms entirely.
Mental Health Resources
- Some additional side effects of concern include aggressive behavior and expressing anger towards others in between 1% and 20% of users 17.
- Deep breathing, meditation, and yoga can help ease anxiety and promote better sleep.
- Medical experts continue to debate the best way to taper these medications, so there’s no single agreed-upon approach.
- This has led to the ‘windows and waves’ metaphor that many benzo injured people use to refer to periods of time when symptoms are elevated and severe; or they have reduced for a period.
- Stopping suddenly can also lead to hallucination, derealization, and dangerous spikes in heart rate and pressure, particularly in those with co-occurring alcohol or stimulant use.
The Recovery Team has built a 20-year reputation for advanced addiction and mental health treatment with locations in Massachusetts, Florida, New Jersey, and Arkansas. The centers offer comprehensive care, including outpatient rehab, medication-assisted treatment, and innovations like GeneSight testing, Ketamine Therapy, and TMS. Specialized psychiatrists and therapists most commonly treat substance use disorders, depression, bipolar, anxiety, trauma, and co-occurring diagnoses.
Benzodiazepines can also interact dangerously with alcohol, opioids, or amphetamines, increasing the chance of overdose or severe sedation. Because of these risks, the British National Formulary recommends cautious dosing and close clinical monitoring to prevent misuse and rebound effects like worsened anxiety or insomnia. If you are struggling with benzodiazepine use disorder, don’t go through withdrawal alone. Sullivan Recovery in Mission Viejo offers safe, outpatient abuse treatment for those dealing with addiction, physical dependence, or failed attempts at quitting. Contact us today for more information on how to begin your recovery safely.
Why Does Benzo Dependence Occur?
The definition of dependency is having withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. With benzos, this can create a very uncomfortable experience, and in some cases, it can cause a very dangerous outcome. Benzodiazepine withdrawal is when the body begins to rid itself of the drug, which can lead to a state of shock. Uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms can result if a person suddenly stops using benzos or drastically reduces use. Each person’s unique needs require an individualized plan, which can provide the specific help you need for recovery.
Benzodiazepine Detox Treatment Options
Physical symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal are slurred speech, impaired vision, vomiting, and flu-like symptoms. Seizures, psychosis, extreme panic, and cardiac distress are not rare—they’re expected risks. Research indicates that physical dependence may begin in just a few weeks, even while taking the drugs in low therapeutic doses. People looking to get off benzos should do so under the guidance of a healthcare professional, who may recommend coping strategies and other tools to make the withdrawal process more comfortable. Benzodiazepine withdrawal happens when the brain reacts to the sudden absence of the drug, disrupting essential chemical signaling.
Benzodiazepine Detox Medications
Additionally, the same bacteria mentioned here are responsible for regulating gas in the GI tract, which may explain the unpredictable bloating that comes with benzo belly. Many people report that it worsens when they eat or drink anything at all, sometimes to the point that it can restrict or cause pain while breathing. Patients typically need a lot of support from family, friends, and ideally, peer coaching. Informed consent means all involved – including the physician – should know and understand what to anticipate and the nature of the process – all established through shared decision-making. The use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be valuable, and adjunctive medications (see list) may be considered.
What It’s Like Going Through Benzo Withdrawal
Although some patients may prefer a quicker taper, this must be balanced with the severity of potential withdrawal symptoms. The physical symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal can vary depending on the individual and the type of benzodiazepine used. Some individuals may experience mild symptoms while others may experience more severe symptoms. Common symptoms include muscle tension, tremors, headaches, digestive issues, and heart palpitations. These symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and can make it difficult for individuals to function in their daily lives.
How to Recognize and Manage Emotional Triggers in Recovery
Benzodiazepine withdrawal is a multifaceted process with varying degrees of severity and durability, largely dependent on individual circumstances and medication specifics. Emphasizing medical supervision and structured tapering protocols is imperative to manage the myriad of potential withdrawal symptoms. As users and their supporters navigate this challenging phase, education and comprehensive treatment plans are critical in ensuring safety and facilitating recovery. Captodiamine is a diphenhydramine-related compound that does not work at histamine receptors as diphenhydramine Alcoholics Anonymous does and its mechanism of action is unclear 70.
- Overcoming benzo dependence or addiction means committing to complete benzo detox and withdrawal.
- National Library of Medicine, these drugs are known to cause dependency and cognitive decline over time, making using them very difficult to manage.
- If withdrawal symptoms become severe, doctors may prescribe other medications.
- Understanding these symptoms is crucial for individuals and healthcare providers to prepare for and navigate the withdrawal process effectively.
- The use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be valuable, and adjunctive medications (see list) may be considered.
One of the main causes of benzo withdrawal, and the benzo flu, may be the sudden dopamine drop in the brain that occurs when someone stops using benzos. Whether you began taking benzos to address a sleep disorder and developed a dependence or have been abusing benzos illegally for years, you deserve a life free from the chains of addiction. Being dependent on benzos when struggling with opioids will exacerbate benzos withdrawal symptoms, making this combination complex. For example, for those addicted to short-acting benzos, such as alprazolam, or those using benzos with alcohol, chlordiazepoxide may be prescribed.
- If you’re predisposed to seizures, your risk of having a seizure may also increase during the withdrawal period.
- For some, symptoms may appear more slowly if they were taking long-acting benzos like Valium.
- Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are among one of the most widely prescribed drug classes in the United States.
- Withdrawal symptoms in benzodiazepine users are triggered when the brain and body, having become accustomed to the drug’s effects, abruptly lose their depressant support.
- Once you overcome the physical symptoms of withdrawal, you will benefit from greater clarity, allowing you to focus on your psychological well-being.
Medical supervision is critical during detox to prevent serious health outcomes. Signs of benzodiazepine withdrawal can be physical, emotional, or cognitive. Early signs include dizziness, perspiration, irritability, nausea, and appetite changes. As symptoms progress, individuals may experience confusion, derealization, suicidal ideation, and seizures. Recognizing these signs early can prevent complications and guide timely intervention.