Medical professionals may administer anti-seizure medication and provide measures to prevent further seizures. It is important to note that improving sleep during benzodiazepine withdrawal may https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/genetics-of-alcoholism-is-alcohol-abuse-hereditary/ take time and patience. It is also important to work closely with a healthcare provider to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses all aspects of benzodiazepine withdrawal.
And still benzodiazepines are being prescribed at alarming levels that only continue to climb, with 66 million prescriptions handed out annually.2 That’s nearly one in every three doctor visits that results in a prescription for benzodiazepines. If we aren’t extremely careful, the number of people addicted to and potentially dying in part due to benzos will continue to rise. The purpose of this page is to help people understand the signs of benzo withdrawal, the timeline of withdrawal symptoms, and the most appropriate way to manage those symptoms. There are various things that people may try to deal with benzo withdrawal on their own, but this may not be recommended. Going through detox and withdrawal with medical support and supervision can make the experience as safe and comfortable as possible.
Benzodiazepine Detoxification
After that first leap, the steps become smaller, usually 5% to 10% of the original dose. Depending on your situation, your doctor may reduce your dose on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis. You may have to pause, slow down, or speed up depending on how your body reacts to withdrawal. For example, say you’re tapering off a dose of 20 milligrams (mg) of diazepam (Valium).
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However, during benzodiazepine withdrawal, anxiety may be heightened due to the brain’s dependence on the drug. This is because benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effects of a neurotransmitter called GABA, which helps to calm the brain and reduce anxiety. For those who are moving away from benzodiazepines because of misuse or addiction, especially if you’re also stepping back from substances like alcohol or opioids, your recovery might involve specialized substance abuse treatment.
I’m In Recovery
If you decide that a medication is right for you to begin or continue, that’s great. Just be sure to avoid the mixture of benzodiazepines with alcohol and opioids, and be watchful of any dependence that may be forming. Ironically, the withdrawal symptoms can bring about the same side effects that drove someone to medicate in the first place. This is because the body and mind have adapted to the presence of the drug, and the withdrawal symptoms are the body’s adjustment process to the absence of those chemicals. The body and mind have to reacclimate to their new realities, where the brain doesn’t naturally produce as many chemicals as the benzodiazepine produced. Benzodiazepines have surged in popularity alongside opioids and are actually involved in more than 30 percent of opioid overdoses.1 Benzos were involved in more than 12,000 overdose deaths in 2020 alone.
A number of unpleasant bodily sensations may persist after withdrawal including tingling, “pins and needles” or patches of numbness in the trunk, face, limbs and fingers. These may be accompanied by burning pain or aches that sometimes seem to originate deep in the muscles or bones. Some people complain of an “inner trembling” or a sense of vibration, and some have described bizarre sensations as of water or slime running over benzodiazepine withdrawal the body or a serpent-like writhing on the scalp. Motor symptoms that may persist include muscle tension, weakness, cramps, jerks, spasms and shaking attacks. These include anxiety, insomnia, depression, various sensory and motor symptoms, gastrointestinal disturbances, and poor memory and cognition. Probably many factors are involved, some directly due to the drug and some to indirect or secondary effects (See Table 4).
Preventing & Treating Benzo Withdrawal
They seem to be prone to colds, sinusitis, ear infections, cystitis, oral and vaginal thrush (candida), other fungal infections of the skin and nails, cracked lips, mouth ulcers and influenza. Also common are complaints of adverse reactions to antibiotics used to treat some of the bacterial infections. GHB withdrawal can initially be treated with high doses of benzodiazepines; refractory cases have responded to pentobarbital, chloral hydrate, and baclofen. Individuals undergoing benzodiazepine withdrawal may also experience mood swings, irritability, and agitation. Individuals may also experience other physical symptoms such as sweating, dizziness, and fatigue.