It is possible that sensory receptors in skin and muscle, and in the tissue sheaths around bones, may fire off impulses chaotically in response to stimuli that do not normally affect them. Severe depression may result from biochemical changes in the brain induced by benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are known to decrease the activity of serotonin and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), neurotransmitters believed to be closely involved in depression. Antidepressant drugs including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs such as Prozac) are thought to act by increasing the activity of such neurotransmitters. Return of SWS seems to take longer after withdrawal, probably because anxiety levels are high, the brain is overactive and it is hard to relax completely. Using benzos Alcoholics Anonymous for a long time can lead to problems, which is known as sedative use disorder.
During your taper, you may still experience some of the symptoms of withdrawal. Symptoms will be milder than acute withdrawal and they can disappear for weeks at a time. Boca Recovery Center is here to provide the best quality care in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. In a typical Librium taper, your team will reduce your initial dose by about 25%. Discontinuing use or reducing the dosage suddenly after a period of sustained use can cause the body and the brain to react in severe ways.
These sensations, including an unpleasant smell (which usually no-one else can detect) have been described in anxiety states in the absence of benzodiazepines. Like insomnia and panics, they are probably reflections of heightened activity in the central nervous system. Such hypervigilance is part of the normal fear and flight response which is damped down by benzodiazepines but undergoes a rebound during withdrawal. The need for sleep is so powerful that normal sleep will eventually reassert itself. 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.
Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes
By following the withdrawal schedules outlined in Chapter II, you can be confident of avoiding these complications. Some people during benzodiazepine withdrawal report feeling unsteady on their feet; sometimes signs of benzodiazepine withdrawal they feel they are being pushed to one side or feel giddy, as if things were going round and round. An important organ in controlling motor stability and maintaining equilibrium is a part of the brain called the cerebellum. This organ is densely packed with GABA and benzodiazepine receptors (See Chapter I) and is a prime site of action of benzodiazepines. Excessive doses of benzodiazepines, like alcohol, cause unsteadiness of gait, slurred speech and general incoordination, including inability to walk in a straight line.
Increased Risk of Death (Especially When Combined with Other Drugs)
Benzodiazepine addiction is what happens when your body and brain become so used to these medications that you feel like you can’t function without them. It’s not just about liking the way they make you feel — it’s about your brain rewiring itself to depend on them. These symptoms are a direct result of GABA dysregulation in the nervous system. Stopping the medication cold turkey can trigger severe effects and even life-threatening complications such as seizures. Medical detox involves tapering off the benzo drug under the supervision of a doctor. Along with these symptoms, the person may experience severe cravings for the drug or other drugs to sedate them.
Other drugs
Medical guidance and structured care are necessary when detoxing from benzodiazepines. After the acute withdrawal phase, many people face lingering symptoms of benzo withdrawal—known as protracted or post‑acute benzo withdrawal. A 56-year-old woman presents to the emergency department (ED) with chief complaint of “heart racing, chest pain, and shaking for the past 3-4 days”. She has been unable to sleep for days and generally feels unwell with diffuse body aches.
- This syndrome can last for weeks, months, or even years after quitting drug use.
- Apart from their therapeutic effects in depression and anxiety, some antidepressants have a sedative effect which patients who are particularly plagued with insomnia have found helpful.
- Additionally, certain medications may be prescribed to target specific symptoms.
- These withdrawal symptoms can be attributed to tolerance or interdose withdrawal.
- This helps the brain adjust gradually and minimizes severe withdrawal effects.
Therapy sessions also address fear, confusion, and motivation, helping the patient stay focused on recovery and reduce the long-term risk of prescription drug addiction. At Sullivan Recovery, we monitor brain function and provide strategies to improve sleep hygiene, focus, and mental clarity throughout the withdrawal process. Symptoms originally treated by the drug—such as anxiety, insomnia, or seizures—return with greater intensity due to GABA receptor dysfunction in the brain and nervous system.
Pill form is most common because it’s convenient, easy to dose, and provides a steady absorption rate. The choice of benzodiazepine often depends on how quickly relief is needed, how long the effects should last, and the specific condition being treated. Benzo withdrawal can be a stressful process, but it is often necessary for people trying to get themselves off benzodiazepine drugs. If withdrawal symptoms become severe, doctors may prescribe other medications. They will make this decision on a case-by-case basis, depending on the type and severity of the symptoms affecting the individual.
Denying Our Mental Health: Why We Do It and How To Move Past It
With slow tapering, some long-term users have virtually lost all their symptoms by the time they take their last tablet, and in the majority symptoms disappear within a few months. Vulnerability to extra stress may last somewhat longer and a severe stress may – temporarily – bring back some symptoms. Symptoms are just symptoms after all and most of them in withdrawal are not signs of illness but signals of recovery. Furthermore, as your mind clears, you can work out more and more effective ways to deal with them so that they become less significant. There has been increasing interest in the question of diet in benzodiazepine withdrawal, particularly in North America. Some people advise that caffeine and alcohol should be completely ruled out.
Detox programs often include therapy, behavioral support, and ongoing monitoring of blood pressure, sleep, mood, and cognition. The primary symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal include anxiety, insomnia, irritability, muscle tension, sweating, and tremors. However, individuals with extensive dependence on the medication may experience more severe effects, such as seizures, cardiovascular complications, cognitive impairment, and delirium. Vulnerable populations, such as older adults, face a heightened risk of falling, cognitive decline issues, and slowed motor skills, particularly with long-term Benzo use. Additionally, pregnant women risk premature labor and adverse withdrawal symptoms in newborns 1. Children in the ICU may experience agitation, tremors, and other withdrawal effects.
- It may take a long time for these people to regain, or attain, full confidence in themselves.
- From 1996 to 2013, the number of people filling benzodiazepine prescriptions increased by 67%.
- This approach helps the brain and body adapt gradually to low levels of benzos and reduces the intensity of withdrawal symptoms.
- The brain adjusts its chemistry to accommodate the drug, and the body becomes reliant on the drug for normal function.
- This disruption can affect neurons, attention, cognition, and physical health.
It is critical to seek help from a qualified physician or detox facility to avoid health risks and ensure a safe recovery. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classify benzodiazepines as a Schedule IV controlled substance. According to the classification, these drugs have a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence. During the acute withdrawal phase, doctors may monitor the person and recommend other drugs to control problematic symptoms. People who have been through acute withdrawal often say that this phase is the most difficult. Practices such as drug tapering or using other drugs to help ease withdrawal may make early withdrawal symptoms milder and more manageable.
The literature on benzodiazepine dependence and withdrawal is reviewed with an emphasis on social and psychological considerations. There are various signs that can indicate someone is experiencing benzo withdrawal. Common benzo withdrawal symptoms can be anxiety, panic, insomnia, and restlessness.