Managing Withdrawal The Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices

You should plan to stay in touch with your doctor regularly during the tapering process, either by phone or during office visits. The best way to quit benzodiazepines is to avoid withdrawal by asking your doctor to taper down your dose. Tapering means taking progressively smaller doses over the course of a few weeks or months. The onset of benzodiazepine withdrawal depends on the specific medication you are taking.

The Post-Taper Recovery Period

According to the classification, these drugs have a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence. Withdrawal symptoms may begin after as little as 3–6 weeks of use, even when a person uses the drugs as the doctor directed. 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.

Withdrawal timeline for prescription stimulants

This type of professional supervised medical detox can significantly reduce the risk of you having severe withdrawal symptoms (such as seizures) and relapse. It’s also helpful to have psychological support to manage cravings and PAWS. Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome (BWS) poses a complex challenge during medication cessation. Its diverse physical and psychological symptoms emphasize the intricate nature of this process. Gradual tapering, psychological support, and lifestyle adjustments are vital for successful management. Raising awareness about BWS empowers individuals to make informed decisions and underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to well-being.

Are There Recommended Treatments for Managing Withdrawal Symptoms?

Yes, symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome may recur after treatment due to factors like stress or substance use. Although differentiating withdrawal reactions from recrudescent psychiatric symptoms after drug withdrawal is always difficult, a number of factors favored the former interpretation of the newly-appearing symptoms and signs. First, the frequency (10 of 11 patients) of new symptoms or signs soon after withdrawal. Fourth, a slower onset and subtler development of this syndrome than that from meprobamate or barbiturates….If large doses of chlordiazepoxide are used, the drug should not be abruptly discontinued.

Medical detox involves tapering off the benzo drug under the supervision of a doctor. The main cause of the symptoms of benzo withdrawal is the sudden reduction of dopamine in the brain. Along with these symptoms, the person may experience severe cravings for the drug or other drugs to sedate them. Acute withdrawal begins after the initial withdrawal symptoms, generally within a few days. That’s what makes it amphetamine addiction treatment essential to stop taking benzodiazepines slowly, with support from a medical professional.

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You may have to pause, slow down, or speed up depending on how your body reacts to withdrawal. Medical experts continue to debate the best way to taper these medications, so there’s no single agreed-upon approach. After a month or so, your brain gets used to sending off more benzodiazepine withdrawal neurotransmitters just so some can get past the benzodiazepine blockade. When benzodiazepines attach to your neurons, they invite a bunch of chloride ions inside. These ions change the neuron’s electrical charge, so it has to work much harder to activate and send signals.

Additionally, Benzodiazepines are occasionally employed as adjuncts in seizure disorders, muscle spasms, and alcohol withdrawal due to their calming effects on the central nervous system. Unlike many other medications, there is often a significant period of time after the taper is complete where patients still experience a variety of the same symptoms they had while tapering. This can extend well beyond the time where there is any active benzodiazepine or metabolite present, sometimes for years after the completion of the taper.

Medical detox

Short-acting drugs like Xanax (alprazolam) and Ativan (lorazepam) leave the system quicker, which means withdrawal symptoms can appear in as little as eight to 12 hours. Detoxing safely and effectively from prescription drugs usually needs professional support as trying to detox without medical supervision can be difficult and dangerous. Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome is managed by gradual tapering of the medication under medical supervision to minimize symptoms. Yes, untreated benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome can lead to seizures, psychosis, and even death in severe cases.

• The best way to quit benzodiazepines is to avoid withdrawal by asking your doctor to taper down your dose.
• Your doctor will help make an individualized tapering schedule based on your current dose and particular circumstances.
• Additionally, seizures and severe withdrawal symptoms, known as benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome, can occur in cases of abrupt cessation or rapid tapering of the medication.
• Though therapy generally can’t address withdrawal symptoms specifically, it can help improve some symptoms, like anxiety and insomnia.
• If you have been using benzodiazepines for longer than six months, suddenly stopping your dose can cause grand mal seizures and delirium—this is why it’s best to involve your doctor or healthcare professional in your withdrawal process.

In the first week of tapering off, your doctor may reduce your dose as much as 30% to get you to a safe amount. 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. For example, say you’re tapering off a dose of 20 milligrams (mg) of diazepam (Valium). In most cases, your doctor will reduce your dosage by 5% to 25% in the first week.

What Is Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome?

• Diazepam, a long-acting benzodiazepine, is the most common choice for dose tapering.
• Your doctor can help you weigh the potential risks and benefits of benzodiazepine use and your pregnancy.
• The increase of symptoms is termed a “wave”, as in being engulfed in a wave of symptoms.
• After that first leap, the steps become smaller, usually 5% to 10% of the original dose.

For example, symptoms of anxiety or insomnia may come back or get worse without the drugs. People looking to get off benzos should do so under the guidance of a healthcare professional, who may recommend coping strategies and other tools to make the withdrawal process more comfortable. A therapist or other mental health professional can offer support with navigating these effects and helping improve your overall quality of life during the withdrawal period. In addition, over half of the survey respondents said benzodiazepines’ side effects or withdrawal symptoms caused them to consider suicide. In addition to the immediate health risk, benzodiazepine withdrawal can seriously affect your quality of life. Experiencing rebound symptoms means the symptoms you had before taking benzodiazepines come back even stronger than before.