However, for those on long-acting benzos, this period may mark the peak of benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms. Psychological symptoms like irritability and difficulty concentrating may persist. While the acute withdrawal phase usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks, those with a severe addiction or coexisting mental health issues like anxiety or depression may experience prolonged benzo withdrawal symptoms. Benzodiazepines, like opioids and alcohol, have the potential to cause physical dependence.
Understanding and Coping with Rebound Anxiety
Patients who were discontinued also had a slightly higher risk of a nonfatal overdose, suicidal thoughts, and emergency department visits. Benzodiazepines, often called “benzos,” are a class of prescription medications primarily used to treat anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and muscle spasms. They work by enhancing the effect of a natural brain chemical called GABA, which helps calm nerve activity.
DBT’s emphasis on acceptance and change in addiction treatment
Everyone is different and some people, with the right schedule and the right support, get no untoward symptoms at all. Many people in fact have managed to come off on their own without any outside help. Sometimes a longer acting benzodiazepine is prescribed as this may help to reduce any withdrawal symptoms you might feel. Symptoms from abrupt withdrawal of short-acting benzodiazepines can commence within a few days. One should realize that symptoms which occur within a few days of abruptly stopping a medicine that has been taken for a while may be due to an effect of abruptly discontinuing the medicine. For some medicines used to treat heart disease, this effect can be a heart attack.
Therapy
- The most common health problem linked to suicide is depression, says the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
- 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.
- The same approach applies to the non-benzodiazepines zolpidem and zaleplon which both have half-lives of 2 hours.
Xanax concerns tend to be centered around its short half life, which could also be said about Ativan, as well as Xanax’s popularity in both the mainstream media and with illicit drug users. This response by prescribers is very dangerous as benzodiazepine cessation is https://ecosoberhouse.com/ unpredictable, with potential damage lasting for years. Most prescribers are not adequately trained in safe benzodiazepine practices, forcing overrapid switching, tapers or sudden cessation. Even with safe, patient led methods, some patients will still become disabled long term, harmed or even die from switching or stopping their prescribed benzodiazepine.
When do symptoms of abrupt withdrawal start and how long do they last?
These drugs mimic the effects of a neurotransmitter called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA acts as a sort of speed bump that helps all the other chemical messengers travel through your brain at a Halfway house reasonable pace. In the serene suburbs of Chattanooga, TN, Iris Wellness Group is a haven for those fighting benzo addiction. Our benzo addiction treatment center offer a nurturing environment conducive to recovery. Withdrawal from shorter-acting Benzos tends to cause more intense and severe symptoms. On the other hand, longer-acting Benzos usually lead to less severe symptoms, and it takes a bit longer for these symptoms to show up.
Psychological Symptoms
Studies highlight that individuals who quit cold turkey are at a heightened risk of experiencing longer-lasting symptoms, with about 40% encountering moderate to severe effects. This underscores the critical need for medical supervision during withdrawal to mitigate these dangerous outcomes. When benzodiazepines are discontinued abruptly, a condition known as GABA-underactivity occurs. This shortfall in GABA leads to hyperexcitability in the nervous system, triggering symptoms such as anxiety, panic attacks, and seizures. As the brain struggles to regain its equilibrium, it may react with heightened sensitivity, making the experience of withdrawal particularly distressing and risky. Benzodiazepines, like Xanax, can significantly affect the central nervous system (CNS) by enhancing the activity of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a neurotransmitter that promotes relaxation benzo withdrawal timeline and calmness.
Box. Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome – clinical features.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA), patients who have been taking 4 mg/day or more of Xanax for over three months are more prone to dependency and thus may experience more severe withdrawal symptoms.
- As 2017 research pointed out, tapers lasting for more than 6 months could worsen anxiety symptoms for some people, but they could be the key to successfully discontinuing use for others.
- High-risk patients are best managed with initial stabilisation and maintenance therapy in specialist residential or outpatient addiction services.
- Common side effects include slurred speech, memory loss, confusion, sleepiness, and increased fall risk.
- Being prepared and understanding what to expect can make a significant difference in managing this challenging phase.
This makes it really important to follow your doctor’s advice closely and be careful if you’re taking benzos for a long time. The risk of misuse and the problems that come with it show why you need to be cautious with long-term benzo therapy. Anyone withdrawing from long-term benzodiazepines should reduce the dosage slowly. A sufficiently slow and smooth removal of benzodiazepines from the body permits the natural systems to regain control of the functions which have been dampened down by the drug’s long-term presence.