Benzodiazepine Addiction: Symptoms & Signs of Dependence

Table 3 provides guidance on medications for alleviating common withdrawal symptoms. If you take an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine, like alprazolam, or a long-acting benzodiazepine, like diazepam, it may take longer for withdrawal symptoms to appear. When you are physically dependent on a drug, it means your body can’t operate normally without it. If you stop or reduce your dose suddenly, you will experience withdrawal symptoms. Rapid detox from benzodiazepines or short-term detox programs for benzodiazepine withdrawal should be avoided.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Warnings

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms appear within 6-24 hours after stopping alcohol, are most severe after 36 – 72 hours and last for 2 – 10 days. Allow the patient to stabilise on this dose of diazepam for 4-7 days. Then, for patients taking less than the equivalent of 40mg of diazepam, follow the low-dose benzodiazepine reducing schedule (Table 9). For patients taking the equivalent of 40mg or more of diazepam, follow the high-dose benzodiazepine reducing schedule (Table 10). It can provide relief to many of the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal including sweating, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, chills, anxiety, insomnia, and tremor.

1. However, when used for an extended period of time (e.g. several weeks), dependence can develop.
2. Protracted withdrawal is a long-term withdrawal syndrome that may come and go for several months.
3. Symptomatic treatment (see Table 3) and supportive care are usually sufficient for management of mild opioid withdrawal.
4. Patients should drink at least 2-3 litres of water per day during withdrawal to replace fluids lost through perspiration and diarrhoea.
5. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be managed with a gradual dose reduction, which will cause milder symptoms that come and go in waves.

Some commonly used detox medications are:

Benzodiazepines are habit-forming prescription drugs used to treat several stress-related conditions, such as anxiety disorders, insomnia, epilepsy and even alcohol withdrawal. There are many different formulations of benzodiazepines, along with many different brand names. Often nicknamed “benzos,” these drugs can become highly addictive if they aren’t used properly. There is also some evidence that it reduces the withdrawal symptoms of long-acting benzos. Benzodiazepine, or benzo, withdrawal happens when a person suddenly stops taking benzodiazepine drugs, which doctors do not recommend.

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Patients in withdrawal should not be forced to do physical exercise. Physical exercise may prolong withdrawal and make withdrawal symptoms worse. Emerging research also suggests acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) could also have benefits during benzodiazepine withdrawal. This approach helps you learn to tolerate discomfort and distress, instead of avoiding it, and choose to live according to your values.

Renewal Center for Ongoing Recovery

Dopamine is a type of messenger that is partly responsible for how humans feel pleasure. Withdrawal symptoms may begin after as little as 3–6 weeks of use, even when a person uses the drugs as the doctor directed. People who have been through acute withdrawal often say that this phase is the most difficult. Acute withdrawal begins after the initial withdrawal symptoms, generally within a few days.

For short-acting benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam, rebound symptoms may appear between doses,1 which typically leads to dose escalation with temporary relief of these symptoms,4 as in this case scenario. This patient has developed numerous concerning adverse effects, including tolerance, physiologic dependence, and withdrawal. Additionally, her use of supratherapeutic fda drug safety communication doses of alprazolam poses a safety concern. Because risks of continued use outweigh any potential benefits, tapering her down and off of the medication should be discussed. Protracted symptoms continue to fade over a period of many months or several years. Protracted withdrawal syndrome refers to symptoms persisting for months or even years.

Benzodiazepine abuse is dangerous alone but even more so in combination with other drugs. Benzos are typically co-abused with other drugs due to their euphoric how to tell if someone is on drugs effects. The duration of withdrawal depends on the dosage and length of use. Symptoms from the mildest addictions resolve within seven to ten days.

While they can quickly relieve symptoms of anxiety and panic, these drugs pose a high risk of dependence. In other words, your body may rely on benzodiazepines to function if you take them frequently and for more than a short period of time. When you stop taking them, you may experience symptoms of withdrawal.

When benzodiazepines are active in the system, this increase in other neurotransmitters may result in a state of balance. When benzodiazepines are metabolized and leave the system, the person stops taking them; there is a state of imbalance. The person experiences withdrawal, which means they have developed a physical dependence on benzodiazepines. By this time, some people may start to feel psychological symptoms like anxiety and irritability on top of their remaining physical symptoms.

Benzodiazepines are a group of central nervous system depressants used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. Benzodiazepines are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. Several types of benzodiazepines are sold under popular brand names like Valium (diazepam), teen drug abuse Xanax (alprazolam), and Klonopin (clonazepam). For most individuals who abuse benzodiazepines, outpatient detox is not recommended. People with substance use disorders as a result of benzodiazepine abuse have already demonstrated an inability to control their use of benzodiazepines.

It is recommended to consult with a medical professional before beginning the detox process. This is not only more effective for your recovery process but also safer. Some people may still feel an intensified feeling of exhaustion, but the most intense withdrawal symptoms are typically over by now. The best way to detox from a benzodiazepine is under medical supervision and in the care of addiction specialists. Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia, and alcohol withdrawal. Benzo withdrawal can be a stressful process, but it is often necessary for people trying to get themselves off benzodiazepine drugs.

Contact us today to learn more about treatment plans and programs that can work well for your needs. Some medical professionals recommend unregulated supplements, such as vitamins, minerals and herbal remedies, as they have shown positive results in a clinical setting. These substances may help people regain their physical health and lessen withdrawal symptoms. Another way that people attempt to detox is by quitting “cold turkey,” which is when benzo use is cut off altogether.

However, it appears that many people take benzodiazepines with alcohol, and this combination can be deadly. Addiction professionals agree that the best practice for individuals seeking to stop using benzodiazepines is to be weaned off these drugs during a medically supervised detox process. As withdrawal progresses, patients often find their physical and mental health improves with improved mood and improved cognition. Before detox begins, a thorough psychiatric evaluation should take place to determine any issues that need to be addressed during the recovery process.