For example, in 2012, alprazolam was among the most prescribed medications in the U.S., according to IMS Health. When you quit taking valium or Xanax or any benzodiazepine medication after prolonged use you are at risk of a wide range of withdrawal symptoms. Individuals that have taken higher doses or who have been using the drug with other substances such as alcohol are at an increased risk of withdrawal that could be dangerous.

• In addition, over half of the survey respondents said benzodiazepines’ side effects or withdrawal symptoms caused them to consider suicide.
• Withdrawal side effects are not generally lethal, although they are best managed with professional medical attention and supervision.
• When a mental health disorder is also present, called co-occurring disorders, specialized treatment that caters to dual diagnoses may be beneficial during recovery.
• Anyone experiencing troubling symptoms from withdrawal, such as suicidal thoughts or tendencies, should seek immediate medical care.
• It may take some time for the cerebellar systems to restabilise after benzodiazepine withdrawal and the symptoms can last until this process is complete.

Excessive doses of benzodiazepines, like alcohol, cause unsteadiness of gait, slurred speech and general incoordination, including inability to walk in a straight line. It may take some time for the cerebellar systems to restabilise after benzodiazepine withdrawal and the symptoms can last until this process is complete. Exercises, such as standing on one leg, first with eyes open, then with eyes closed, can speed recovery. Depression in withdrawal responds to antidepressant drugs in the same way as depressive disorders where benzodiazepines are not involved. If, as in many cases, an antidepressant drug is already being taken along with the benzodiazepine, it is important to continue the antidepressant until after benzodiazepine withdrawal is complete.

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It is usually inadvisable to stick to a strict exclusion diet; with a normal balanced diet and sensible general health measures, including regular exercise, gastrointestinal symptoms due to withdrawal gradually abate. Some drugs related to major tranquillisers have sedative effects and are also used for nausea, vertigo and motion sickness. These are sometimes prescribed during withdrawal, especially prochlorperazine (Compazine). However, such https://ecosoberhouse.com/ drugs can have serious side effects (motor disorders like Parkinson’s disease) and are not recommended for long-term use or as a substitute for benzodiazepines. Once the hallucinations, which seem real at the time, are recognised as “merely” hallucinations, they quickly become less alarming. They do not herald the onset of madness; they are simply instances of benzodiazepines playing tricks on the brain which will right itself in time.

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.

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Information on benzodiazepine concentrations in the brain and other tissues is difficult to obtain, especially in humans. Benzodiazepines certainly enter the brain and also dissolve in all fatty (lipid-containing) tissues including fat deposits all over the body. It is possible that they linger in such tissues for some time after blood levels have become undetectable. However, most body tissues are in equilibrium with the blood that constantly perfuses them, and there is no known mechanism whereby benzodiazepines could be “locked up” in tissues such as the brain.

Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be an unpleasant and challenging aspect of early recovery. If not medically managed, some of the symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal may be severe and potentially dangerous. To successfully detox from benzodiazepines, one of the key factors is to be aware of exactly what to expect during withdrawal.

Protracted withdrawal

Because the benzodiazepine withdrawal process can prove deadly, it’s important for anyone who’s potentially dependent or addicted to consult medical professionals or visit a medical detox facility before they begin to experience withdrawal. Medical professionals can prescribe medications to manage a withdrawal, oversee the withdrawal and intervene if anything goes awry. They can also provide a safe environment for withdrawal free from the temptation of mind-altering substances that might complicate or delay the process of quitting. Withdrawal symptoms can occur after as little as one month of use, even on small, therapeutic doses.

Understanding the timeline for benzo withdrawal can help in navigating the path to recovery from dependency. The start and length of withdrawal symptoms depend on whether the benzo is short-acting or long-acting. Typically, symptoms benzodiazepine withdrawal start within 6 hours for short-acting benzos and hours for long-acting ones. The acute withdrawal phase usually lasts 2-4 weeks, but those with severe addiction or coexisting mental health issues might have longer-lasting symptoms.