Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be managed with a gradual dose reduction, which will cause milder symptoms that come and go in waves. From 1996 to 2013, the number of people filling benzodiazepine prescriptions increased by 67%. Benzodiazepine abuse and dependence has become more significant among all age groups, from teens to elderly adults. In 2016, estimates suggest that about half a million people in the United States misused sedative drugs. Other therapies, including counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), may be helpful for people looking to manage symptoms without relying on other drugs.
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome – Symptoms and Treatment
Many women complain of menstrual problems but these are common in the general population and there is no clear evidence that they are directly attributable to benzodiazepines. A proportion of female long-term benzodiazepine users have had hysterectomies, but again there is no evidence of a direct link with benzodiazepine use. Occasionally both men and women on benzodiazepines complain of breast swelling or engorgement and it is possible that benzodiazepines affect secretion of the hormone prolactin. This may be Halfway house due to a rebound effect on appetite, since benzodiazepines have been shown to increase appetite in animals. In any case, weight changes are not severe enough to worry about and normal weight is soon regained after withdrawal. A few people have difficulty in swallowing food – the throat seems to tighten up especially if eating in company.
Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes
The muscle pain and stiffness is actually little different from what is regarded as normal after an unaccustomed bout of exercise, and would be positively expected, even by a well-trained benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome athlete, after running a marathon. At the same time, the nerves to the muscles are hyperexcitable, leading to tremor, tics, jerks, spasm and twitching, and jumping at the smallest stimulus. All this constant activity contributes to a feeling of fatigue and weakness (“jelly-legs”). In addition, the muscles, especially the small muscles of the eye, are not well co-ordinated, which may lead to blurred or double vision or even eyelid spasms (blepharospasm). Of the complementary medicine techniques, all can help with relaxation during the procedure but the effects tend to be short-lived. Protracted withdrawal is a long-term withdrawal syndrome that may come and go for several months.
Inpatient Treatment
Discontinuing benzodiazepines or antidepressants abruptly due to concerns of teratogenic effects of the medications has a high risk of causing serious complications, so is not recommended. For example, abrupt withdrawal of benzodiazepines or antidepressants has a high risk of causing extreme withdrawal symptoms, including suicidal ideation and a severe rebound effect of https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the return of the underlying disorder if present. One study reported one-third of mothers who suddenly discontinued or very rapidly tapered their medications became acutely suicidal due to ‘unbearable symptoms’. One woman had a medical abortion, as she felt she could no longer cope, and another woman used alcohol in a bid to combat the withdrawal symptoms from benzodiazepines.
Duration and Intensity of Symptoms
- The primary difference between these drugs is the length of time they stay active in the body.
- A significant minority of people withdrawing from benzodiazepines, perhaps 10% to 15%, experience a protracted withdrawal syndrome which can sometimes be severe.
- One known case of death was that of David Stojcevski, an inmate at the Macomb County Jail 17 days into a 30 day sentence for an unpaid traffic ticket.
- In time, the majority of people recover completely—often experiencing good mental and physical health for the first time in a long time.
- Our platform provides learning support for a wide range of subjects, including STEM, Social Sciences, and Languages and also helps students to successfully master various tests and exams worldwide, such as GCSE, A Level, SAT, ACT, Abitur, and more.
The recommended reduction rates range from 50% of the initial dose every week or so, to 10-25% of the daily dose every 2 weeks. A prolonged period of reduction over many months should be avoided to prevent the withdrawal process from becoming a “morbid focus” for the person. It can be too difficult to withdraw from short- or intermediate-acting benzodiazepines because of the intensity of the rebound symptoms felt between doses.
Withdrawal typically begins 1-2 days after the last dose, and continues for 2-4 weeks or longer. It can provide relief to many of the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal including sweating, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, chills, anxiety, insomnia, and tremor. Benzodiazepine dependence is a significant concern, especially given the widespread prescription of these drugs for anxiety and sleep disorders. While exact figures vary, a significant percentage of long-term users will experience some form of withdrawal upon discontinuation. When benzodiazepines are taken for a prolonged period, the brain adjusts its chemistry to accommodate the continuous influx of the drug. Over time, it becomes reliant on the presence of benzodiazepines to maintain a sense of balance.
Peak Phase: Acute Withdrawal
Those who had a prior psychiatric diagnosis had a similar success rate from a gradual taper at a two-year follow-up. Withdrawal from benzodiazepines did not lead to an increased use of antidepressants. While some substitutive pharmacotherapies may have promise, current evidence is insufficient to support their use.
Generalised anxiety, panics and phobias
Meanwhile, attention to sleep hygiene measures including avoiding tea, coffee, other stimulants or alcohol near bedtime, relaxation tapes, anxiety management techniques and physical exercise may be helpful. Taking all or most of the dose of benzodiazepine at night during the reduction period may also help. Occasionally another drug might be indicated (see section on adjuvant drugs, below). Chapter I described what benzodiazepines do when they are in the body and how tolerance and dependence develop.