Benzodiazepines are prescription medications used to treat anxiety disorders, insomnia, and other mental health conditions. When taken as directed, they are very effective. But you can quickly become physically dependent on benzodiazepines and experience distressing withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using them. Some benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can be quite serious and even life-threatening. If you’re struggling with benzodiazepine use, it’s important to educate yourself on benzodiazepine withdrawal causes, symptoms, timelines, and the importance of seeking medical help with detox.
What are Benzodiazepines and How Are They Used?
Benzodiazepines, commonly referred to as benzos, are a class of depressant medications used in the treatment of anxiety, PTSD, panic disorder, and other mental health conditions. They’re also used as anticonvulsants to help treat seizures. Benzos are classified as Schedule IV controlled substances in the United States. This is because misusing benzodiazepines can make you physically and psychologically dependent on these drugs. They can also cause life-threatening side effects when misused. Benzos are only available through a prescription. The most commonly prescribed benzos are Valium, Ativan, Xanax, Halcion, and Klonopin.
History of Benzodiazepines
The first benzodiazepine was identified by scientists in 1955. By 1960 benzos were being prescribed under the brand name Librium. At the time, benzos represented an improvement over barbiturates as a safer way to treat anxiety-related mental illnesses. But their potential for misuse and addiction led to their classification as controlled substances with strict guidelines for use.
How Do Benzodiazepines Work?
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA. GABA causes your nervous system to slow and become less active. By increasing the amount of GABA in your brain, benzos make you feel relaxed, calm, and tranquil.
Commonly Prescribed Benzos and Their Uses
Most benzodiazepines have a sedative effect so, for some mental health conditions, they can be prescribed interchangeably. This means that any benzo will be effective and beneficial at reducing symptoms. But certain benzos have effects and properties that make them the preferred treatment for specific conditions. For instance, Ativan, Xanax, Valium, and Librium are used to treat anxiety disorders. People suffering from insomnia are often prescribed Prosom, Halcion, Doral, Dalmane, or Restoril. Klonopin, Ativan, Tranxen, Valium, and Onfi. Some of these are useful in treating seizure disorders.
Benzo Side Effects
Because they work to slow down your central nervous system, benzodiazepines will make you feel calm and relaxed. The most common side effects of benzodiazepines are:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Feeling tired or lethargic
- Feeling unsteady on your feet
- Sedation
Benzos can also cause more serious side effects including:
- Confusion and disorientation
- Dizziness
- Slurred speech
- Lack of motor coordination
- Low blood pressure
- Decreased breathing rate
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
Benzo Interactions
Always take benzodiazepines as directed by your healthcare provider. When benzodiazepines are taken in conjunction with other medications or alcohol that have a sedative effect, they can cause life-threatening consequences. Any central nervous system depressant should be avoided when taking benzos. This includes alcohol, opioids, barbiturates, antidepressants, MAOIs, and street opiates like heroin. Using benzos with opioids is particularly dangerous as doing so can cause coma and even death.
Benzo Addiction Symptoms
Because addiction develops slowly over time, it’s not always easy to know when you or someone you love has become dependent on benzos. But there are physical and behavioral signs to look for. Physical signs of benzo addiction include:
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Persistent drowsiness
- Weakness
- Blurry vision
- Trouble focusing or concentrating
- Increasing your dosage without consulting a physician
Behavioral signs of benzo dependence include:
- The inability to stop or reduce using the drug
- Hiding drug use from friends and family
- Going to multiple doctors to obtain duplicate prescriptions
- Taking benzos with alcohol or other drugs
- Taking benzos without a prescription
- Irritability
- Mood swings
Causes of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
If you believe you have become dependent on benzos you will likely experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop taking the drug. Taking a benzodiazepine even for a short time can cause you to develop a tolerance to the drug. Over time, your body adjusts to the presence of the drug, resulting in the need to increase your dose of the drug to achieve the same effect. As a consequence, upon stopping use of the drug, you will likely experience uncomfortable, distressing, and even life-threatening symptoms.
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
Benzo withdrawal can cause very dangerous symptoms, so you should never try to stop using benzos on your own. Going cold turkey can cause grand mal seizures and delirium. While most people who experience withdrawal seizures have been using benzos for a long period of time, it’s possible to suffer withdrawal seizures after only two weeks of taking your medication at the recommended dose. This is why benzo detox should only be done under medical supervision. An experienced healthcare provider will create a program for you that allows you to taper your benzo use gradually to keep you safe and as comfortable as possible as you detox.
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Timeline
There are three general stages of benzodiazepine withdrawal, each with their own general timelines. However, there is no set-in-stone timeline for each phase. Withdrawal symptoms, severity, and duration will vary depending on a variety of individual circumstances, including:
- How long you’ve been taking benzodiazepines
- What kind of benzos you’re taking
- The dosage you’re taking
- Whether or not you have a history of substance misuse
- Whether or not you’ve been taking benzos along with alcohol and/or other drugs
- Your age and overall physical health
- Whether or not you have any mental health conditions
In addition, withdrawal symptoms may come and go throughout each stage of the detox process.
Benzo Withdrawal Stages: Early Withdrawal
In the first phase of benzo detox, you’ll likely experience uncomfortable physical symptoms including nausea, headache, increased heart rate, and muscle aches. You may also experience a rebound of the symptoms you were using benzos to treat, such as insomnia or anxiety. Those symptoms may not only return but worsen. This stage of withdrawal typically lasts several days. However, the exact timeline depends on what type of benzos you’ve been taking. If you’ve been using a short-acting benzo such as Xanax, withdrawal symptoms will usually begin within a couple of days of stopping use. If you’ve been taking a longer-acting drug such as Valium or Ativan, withdrawal symptoms may appear up to a week after you stop use.
Benzo Withdrawal Stages: Acute Withdrawal
Within a few days of beginning benzo detox, you may begin to experience more severe withdrawal symptoms, including:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Panic
- Muscle pains or spasms
- Digestive issues such a vomiting or nausea
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Cognitive impairment such as inability to concentrate
- Mood swings
- Decreased appetite
This phase of withdrawal can last anywhere from two weeks to several months.
Benzo Withdrawal Stages: Protracted Withdrawal
Some people who stop using benzodiazepines experience protracted withdrawal, sometimes called post-acute withdrawal syndrome. This is when withdrawal symptoms last for a year or more. Protracted withdrawal symptoms include:
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Inability to focus or concentrate
- Decreased libido
- Mood swings
It can sometimes be hard to tell if the symptoms you’re experiencing are due to protracted withdrawal or if they’re the return of the condition which you medicated with benzos. That’s why it’s important to stay under the care of a provider with experience in benzo withdrawal management.
How To Safely Detox from Benzos
If you’ve decided that you want to quit using benzos, know that it’s not safe to stop on your own. Always seek professional medical help with detox. It’s important to find a treatment program that offers medical assistance managing the physical and psychological effects of withdrawal. Your care providers will devise a dosing schedule that allows you to gradually and safely reduce and ultimately stop taking benzos. Each person is different, so it’s important to create a plan that is tailored to your individual symptoms, conditions, and needs.
You should also make sure you have access to the emotional and psychological support you’ll need as you go through the detox process. Find a facility that employs counselors who can guide you through strategies to cope with the emotional impact of withdrawal. Peer support groups can be an important part of your plan as you progress through detox and recovery.
Many people choose to detox in a specialized facility where symptoms can be monitored and managed by medical professionals who specialize in treating patients withdrawing from substances. An experienced, licensed detox facility can keep you safe and comfortable as you withdraw from benzodiazepines.
The Brentwood Springs Detox family of services in Nashville allows us to help you safely and effectively stop using benzodiazepines. Our experienced team will design a personalized treatment plan that’s based on your unique needs, goals, and situation. We offer specialized 24/7 care so that you can detox from benzos comfortably, safely, and in a way that sets you up for success as you prepare for the next steps in recovery. Contact us today to get started on a new, healthy chapter of your life.
