They enhance the neurotransmitter GABA’s effect in the brain, which results in sedative, hypnotic (sleep-inducing), anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties. Below is a breakdown of benzodiazepines, categorized by their generic names, brand names, common uses, and half-life information. After acute withdrawal, many individuals experience lingering symptoms—this is known as PAWS (Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome). PAWS can last for weeks or even months depending on the severity of the addiction. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
- Depression in withdrawal responds to antidepressant drugs in the same way as depressive disorders where benzodiazepines are not involved.
- While the journey to overcome heroin addiction is arduous, individuals don’t have to confront it alone.
- The most severe symptoms (like seizures, hallucinations, akathisia, suicidality) typically result from over-rapid tapering or abrupt cessation.
- Healthcare providers play a crucial role in guiding individuals through withdrawal, offering reassurance, and adapting treatment plans to address the person’s evolving needs in recovery.
- For example, say you’re tapering off a dose of 20 milligrams (mg) of diazepam (Valium).
The persistent symptoms of protracted withdrawal, such as low energy, distractedness, memory loss, and persistent anxiety, can distress individuals and deteriorate their quality of life, sometimes occurring without warning. Just like with opioids and alcohol, using benzos can lead to physical dependence. This means your body starts to rely on the drug to function normally, usually after using it regularly over a period of time.
Depression, aggression, obsessions
Long acting BZD’s generally have a less severe withdrawal starting at 2-7 days, peaking around 20 days, and abate after a few weeks. It is sometimes very difficult to know whether continuing anxiety is due to withdrawal or whether the original anxiety has resurfaced. 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.
Illegal Drug Addiction
These tactics act as stabilizing forces, aiding individuals in navigating through the turbulent phases of withdrawal and granting them an enhanced sense of mastery and autonomy. The time it takes to withdraw from benzodiazepines (Benzo) varies, largely depending on the specific type of medication you’re using. This difference is mostly because each type of Benzo has a different half-life, which is how long the drug stays active in your body after you take it. Withdrawing from benzodiazepines, commonly referred to as benzos, can trigger a mix of physical and psychological symptoms.
Can You Die From Benzo Withdrawal?
A small percentage of patients (10%) will still have withdrawal symptoms a year after use. These are generally patients who were highly dependent on benzos and who did not taper off from benzos with the help of a medical benzodiazepine withdrawal professional. Clients with mild to moderate benzodiazepine addiction can consider the outpatient program. You reside at home but visit the treatment facility for a few hours daily for checkups and medical assistance.
This occurs when your body becomes accustomed to the presence of benzos, relying on them for normal functioning. Experiencing benzo withdrawal symptoms is a clear sign that dependence has formed. It’s important to note that this can happen even when benzos are taken exactly as prescribed, which is why long-term use is generally discouraged. Buspirone is for people taking benzos for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
It has been estimated that perhaps per cent of long-term benzodiazepine users develop a “post-withdrawal syndrome”. Many of these people have taken benzodiazepines for 20 years or more and/or have had bad experiences in withdrawal. The incidence of protracted symptoms in those who have undergone a slow taper under their own control is almost certainly very much lower. This means that the patient, and his/her mentor, must be on the look-out for depression so that treatment, if advised by the doctor, can start early. The second drawback is that anxiety may be temporarily worsened at the start of treatment either with tricyclics or SSRIs. This is a particular risk during benzodiazepine withdrawal when anxiety levels are usually high.
If depression is severe during benzodiazepine withdrawal as in any other situation, it seems foolhardy to leave it untreated. Depressive symptoms are common both during long-term benzodiazepine use and in withdrawal. It is not surprising that some patients feel depressed considering the amalgam of other psychological and physical symptoms that may assail them. Sometimes the depression becomes severe enough to qualify as a “major depressive disorder”, to use the psychiatric term. This disorder includes the risk of suicide and may require treatment with psychotherapy and/or antidepressant drugs. 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.
Mental Health Resources
GABA acts as a sort of speed bump that helps all the other chemical messengers travel through your brain at a reasonable pace. They can range in severity, though for some people, they remain mild and manageable. A variety of withdrawal schedules from several benzodiazepines are illustrated on the following pages. Schedules such as these have worked on real people, but you may need to adapt them for your own needs. There are particularly compelling reasons why older people should withdraw from benzodiazepines since, as age advances, they become more prone to falls and fractures, confusion, memory loss and psychiatric problems (see Chapter 1). In most cases of benzo withdrawal, suddenly stopping the medication is not recommended, as it can be dangerous.
Short-acting benzos like Ativan and Xanax leave the body system faster, so withdrawal symptoms may occur after 48 hours. Drugs like Klonopin, Valium, and Librium take longer to leave the system, so the withdrawal symptom may appear a day or two after the last use. When not well handled, benzodiazepine withdrawal seizures could lead to death. People who misuse other drugs alongside benzodiazepines and those with underlying mental health issues experience more intense withdrawal symptoms. For older adults, abrupt cessation of benzodiazepines can cause delirium, heart attacks, and falls. PAWS refers to a set of persistent withdrawal symptoms that can continue for weeks, months, or even years after the acute withdrawal phase has ended.
- It requires a nuanced approach, considering the drug’s impact on the brain’s chemistry and the individual’s unique physiological and psychological makeup.
- It is as if the nervous system has a “memory” of the withdrawal(s) and/or damage from a substance like benzodiazepines.
- Establishing open lines of communication with relatives can alleviate concerns about being judged and promote an atmosphere conducive to healing throughout the withdrawal process.
- Abruptly stopping benzodiazepine use (“cold turkey”) can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms.
The drug helps the user achieve a state of relaxation, which reduces anxiety. Benzodiazepines affect the brain’s natural reward system when taken for long periods of time. It increases dopamine production, which creates a temporary state of calmness and contentment. This reduces the neurotransmitters the brain naturally produces, so you amphetamine addiction treatment become reliant on the drug to feel normal. If you or someone you love is battling benzodiazepine dependence, reach out today.