Benzo Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, and Safe Treatment
I realize that many physicians will declare these new symptoms the start of a new mental illness – usually bipolar – but calling it protracted withdrawal just confuses the doctor. Although I refer to protracted withdrawal as drug neurotoxicityemphasis added, it is still a bad idea to give the doctor a diagnosis rather than to present symptoms. They want to make the diagnosis and often benzodiazepines withdrawal symptoms feel put off by patients who present with a complaint and a diagnosis. People may become symptomatic and not understand that their ill health is because they are taking a benzodiazepine, and the medical professionals they seek out for help may be uneducated as well.
How does benzodiazepine withdrawal differ from withdrawal from other substances?
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- At times, I was filled with ice-cold terror that swept through me like a tsunami.
- With benzos, this can create a very uncomfortable experience, and in some cases, it can cause a very dangerous outcome.
- You should plan to stay in touch with your doctor regularly during the tapering process, either by phone or during office visits.
- They found significant changes in sleep microstructure in chronic insomnia with high dosage abuse of BZD, but sleep architecture changes were not significant.
All the evidence shows that a steady decline in symptoms almost invariably continues after withdrawal, though it can take a long time – even several years in some cases. Most people experience a definite improvement over time so that symptoms gradually decrease to levels nowhere near as intense as in the early days of withdrawal, and eventually almost entirely disappear. All the studies show steady, if slow, improvement in cognitive ability and physical symptoms. Although most studies have not extended beyond a year after withdrawal, the results suggest that improvement continues beyond this time. There is absolutely no evidence that benzodiazepines cause permanent damage to the brain, nervous system or body.
Generalised anxiety, panics and phobias
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.
The Timeline and Phases of Benzo Withdrawal
As mentioned before, depression can be a real problem in withdrawal and can sometimes be severe enough to pose a risk of suicide, though this is unusual with slow tapering. marijuana addiction Like any other depression, the depression in withdrawal responds to antidepressant drugs and is probably caused by the same chemical changes in the brain. There is a school of thought, mainly amongst ex-tranquilliser users, that is opposed to the taking of any other drugs during withdrawal. But suicides have occurred in several reported clinical trials of benzodiazepine withdrawal. If depression is severe during benzodiazepine withdrawal as in any other situation, it seems foolhardy to leave it untreated. They can be life-saving in status epilepticus (repeated fits, one after another) and in fits caused by overdose of certain drugs (for example, tricyclic antidepressants).
- Motor symptoms that may persist include muscle tension, weakness, cramps, jerks, spasms and shaking attacks.
- They can help minimize symptoms to make it more likely you will continue on with your recovery.
- According to researchers, it is known that benzodiazepines cause a surge of dopamine in the brain.
- In Economics from Bates College with extensive professional experience in both financial and municipal management.
- They can range in severity, though for some people, they remain mild and manageable.
They suggest a dysfunction in motor and sensory pathways in the spinal cord and/or brain. A possible clue to their mechanism is provided by a trial with flumazenil (Anexate, Romazicon) a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, published by Lader and Morton (Journal of Psychopharmacology 1992, 6, ). The symptoms were improved by percent and the greatest response occurred in patients with the lowest anxiety ratings. Anxiety persisting after the acute phase of withdrawal may be partly due to the uncovering of a learning defect caused by the benzodiazepines. These drugs specifically impair the learning of new skills, including stress-coping strategies. Such skills are normally acquired continuously from childhood to middle age or later as experience of life accumulates.
