The clinical staff can help you get through benzo withdrawal with ongoing support. They’ll also be able to treat the physical and emotional aspects of the benzo flu that may otherwise discourage you from continuing treatment. Safety should always be the primary consideration for benzo detox and treatment. This includes ensuring that detox occurs under 24/7 medical supervision at the hands of professionals skilled in treating stimulant substance abuse disorders. These medical professionals can help ease benzo withdrawal and make the detox process as painless as possible. During this stage, the symptoms tend to be most intense as the body tries to adjust to the absence of the drug.

Peak Phase: Acute Withdrawal

If you’re someone who often mixes benzos with alcohol, this increases your risk of overdosing. However, as with any excessive substance use, benzodiazepines are well known to be highly addictive and dangerous if misused. According to one study conducted by PubMed, 30.6 million adults (12.6%) in the USA reported using benzo medications. Benzo addiction may cause behavioral health issues and life-threatening symptoms. Psychological symptoms are irritability, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and memory loss. Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia, and alcohol withdrawal.

• Secondly, benzodiazepine withdrawal may uncover life problems that have never been fully addressed.
• The same approach applies to the non-benzodiazepines zolpidem and zaleplon which both have half-lives of 2 hours.
• Although many symptoms subside after the acute withdrawal phase, lingering side effects are possible.
• Over time, the brain becomes reliant on these substances to function normally, leading to significant distress when the drug is withdrawn.

Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome (PWS)

Aminority of respondents (6.1%) stated they had been ‘clearly warned’ or ‘warned, butnot sufficiently’ (7.9%). A small number of respondents (3.1%) had no recollectionof whether or not they were told about benzodiazepine risks. Our Weston, MA facility provides 24/7 monitoring, individualized tapering strategies, and therapeutic care guided by Dr. Salah Alrakawi, a dual board-certified addiction specialist. We also provide day treatment program which offers flexible, personalized support to help you recover without disrupting your daily life. With adaptable scheduling and diverse therapeutic approaches, we provide comprehensive care tailored to your needs.

SLOW WITHDRAWAL SCHEDULES

It’s a journey back to oneself, a path paved with challenges but promising a healthier, more autonomous future. Let this guide serve not only as a roadmap through the complexities of withdrawal but also as a beacon of hope for those seeking to break free from the chains of dependence. Avoiding caffeine and electronic devices before bedtime can improve sleep quality. Withdrawal symptoms range from mild discomfort to severe and potentially fatal complications.

Benzo Detox at FHE Health

Liquid preparations of some benzodiazepines are available and if desired slow reduction from these can be accomplished by decreasing the volume of each dose, using a graduated syringe. Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome is a complex physiological and psychological process that occurs when an individual who has taken the drug for an extended period either reduces the dosage or stops its consumption altogether. The symptoms of withdrawal are the body’s response to its dependency on the substance and its sudden absence from the system. Benzodiazepines come in various formulations, each designed to address specific medical needs. Some benzos, such as Valium (diazepam), have a long-acting formulation, making them suitable for treating conditions like generalized anxiety disorder. On the other hand, shorter-acting benzodiazepines like Ativan (lorazepam) are beneficial for acute anxiety episodes or panic attacks.

It can also help you learn to identify psychological triggers that may cause you to relapse so that you can avoid them in the future. Symptoms will be milder than acute withdrawal and they can disappear for weeks at a time. Ice packs, heat packs, soothing showers or baths (no Epsom salt as the magnesium content can flare symptoms), or gentle massage are other ways to manage pain. Gentle walking, stretching, Yoga, swimming, and meditation, are healthy ways to cope with pain. One problem that respondents mentioned was their difficulty in findingknowledgeable and appropriate help to benzodiazepines withdrawal symptoms manage their physiologic dependence. Over 92 million prescriptions for benzodiazepines are dispensed in the UnitedStates annually, yet little is known about the experiences of those takingand discontinuing them.

Benzo Withdrawal Timeline

• By the third and fourth week, many start to feel better physically, but psychological symptoms can linger.
• Even individuals who take benzodiazepines as prescribed can experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the drug.
• Thus the symptoms suffered by many long-term users are a mixture of adverse effects of the drugs and “withdrawal” effects due to tolerance.
• Understanding the benzo withdrawal timeline is essential for anyone preparing to detox, whether for themselves or a loved one.
• Dependence and withdrawal can happen to anyone, even if you take your medication exactly as instructed.

This often requires the physician to address messages of safety and intrinsic need for benzodiazepines, which patients have heard from other physicians who are unaware of the dangers and symptoms of physiologic dependency. For long-term benzodiazepine users, this is a tidal shift in thinking, and will take time, reinforcement, and assurance that the prescriber will help them though the withdrawal and recovery processes. Crucially, coping with benzodiazepine withdrawal is not a solitary endeavor. It necessitates a collaborative approach involving medical professionals, mental health support, and the unwavering support of loved ones. Medical supervision ensures safety and mitigates risks, while psychological support provides the tools to navigate the emotional landscape of recovery.

Tapering changes

Regular use of BZDs has been shown to cause severe, harmful psychological and physical dependence, leading to withdrawal symptoms similar to that of alcohol withdrawal. Many drugs have been tested as a treatment for withdrawal, with few proving efficacious in randomized control trials. Future research is warranted for further exploration into alternative methods of treating BZD withdrawal. This call to action proves especially relevant, as those seeking treatment for BZD dependence and withdrawal are on the rise in the United States.

Benzo withdrawal symptoms occur because this drug creates a high level of dependency in the user. As a result of this, it tends to quiet down or calm the impulses sent within the brain between these transmitters. This helps to reduce anxiety, calms the heart rate and helps you to feel good. Most people experience a state of relaxation and well-being, even if they were anxious and overwhelmed just minutes before. Dr. Sanjai Thankachen graduated from Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medicine in 2000.

• If you’ve used benzos for several years or used a significant dosage of them for several months, medical detox can be necessary.
• They quickly diffuse through the blood–brain barrier to affect the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and exert sedative effects.
• Medical supervision is critical during detox to prevent serious health outcomes.
• It is not surprising that some patients feel depressed considering the amalgam of other psychological and physical symptoms that may assail them.

This is not uncommon in those who have undergone rapid withdrawal without adequate explanation, often in hospital or detoxification centres but sometimes at home when their doctor has withdrawn prescriptions. Such people may develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in which their experiences are constantly repeated as flashbacks or nightmares and so prolong the anxiety. These include anxiety, insomnia, depression, various sensory and motor symptoms, gastrointestinal disturbances, and poor memory and cognition.

Benzo withdrawal occurs when an individual decreases or stops consuming benzodiazepines after physical and mental dependency forms. Abruptly stopping use triggers an overactive nervous system, causing severe withdrawal symptoms. Nevertheless, the concentration of benzodiazepines remaining in body tissues after withdrawal must alcoholism treatment be very low, otherwise the drugs would leak back into the blood in discernible amounts. It is difficult to imagine that such concentrations would be sufficient to produce clinical effects or that any direct effects could last for months or years.