Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

Benzodiazepine (benzo) medicines are used for anxiety, other mood problems, insomnia, seizures, alcohol withdrawal, and as muscle relaxants. If you have been taking this medicine for more than a few weeks, your body gets used to having it. When you stop taking it, you may have withdrawal symptoms. This withdrawal is almost identical to the withdrawal that occurs with alcohol.

The list of possible withdrawal symptoms is very long. Withdrawal can include:

• Pain
• Agitation
• Restlessness
• Shakiness
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Cramps
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Trouble sleeping
• Diarrhea
• Sweating

More severe reactions can include chest pain, trouble breathing, seizures, delusions, hallucinations, high temperatures, and coma. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be deadly in people with severe use problems.

As the medicine clears from your system, your body gets used to not having it. This period is called detox. Detox often takes a few weeks. But it may take a few months if you have been taking benzodiazepines for several years. Symptoms will go away when detox is done. If you've been taking these medicines for a long time, you will likely need medical help to prevent severe withdrawals. This is done through a closely watched regimen. You slowly cut down and wean off of benzodiazepines over weeks or months rather than stop them all at once (cold turkey).

People who have used these medicines for a long time should not stop taking them cold turkey. Severe withdrawal symptoms or even death may occur. A patient with severe withdrawal may need treatment in an intensive care unit.

The doctor may prescribe a sedative to help reduce your symptoms. Take this medicine exactly as instructed. Don't take it more often than prescribed or increase the dose. Never take a sedative with alcohol.

• You will need good nutrition during detox. Eat 3 meals a day. Take vitamin and mineral supplements as directed.
• Don't drink alcohol during your detox.
• For both physical safety and emotional well-being, don't go through withdrawal alone. If you can, stay with family or friends who can help and support you as you detox.
• Don't drive until all symptoms are gone and you're feeling better.

Follow up with your doctor, or as advised. Withdrawal can last from a few weeks to a few months. Once you get past it, you will feel better. If you were misusing benzodiazepines, it's vital to get support and treatment to stay off them. Your doctor can help. Here are some resources for support:

• Narcotics Anonymous, www.na.org
• SAMHSA's National Helpline , https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357)
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline https://988lifeline.org/ Call 988.

You may find a residential detox program helpful. It allows you to stay overnight and get supervised attention and help. Do an online search for drug abuse and treatment centers.

Contact your doctor right away if any of these occur:

• Severe shakiness
• Increasing upper belly (abdominal) pain or vomiting
• Hallucinations
• Headache or confusion
• Severe trouble sleeping
• Depression
• Feeling that you want to harm yourself or others

Call 911 if any of these occur:

• Trouble breathing or swallowing, or wheezing
• Severe confusion
• Extreme drowsiness or trouble waking up
• Fainting or loss of consciousness
• Fast heart rate
• Very low or very high blood pressure
• Seizure