They can range in severity, though for some people, they remain mild and manageable. Consequently, experts recommend you take benzodiazepines for no more than 2 weeks if you use them daily. If you only use them once every few days, you may be able to take them for up to 4 weeks. In most cases of benzo withdrawal, suddenly stopping the medication is not recommended, as it can be dangerous. Although many symptoms subside after the acute withdrawal phase, lingering side effects are possible. Symptoms will be milder than acute withdrawal and they can disappear for weeks at a time.

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For instance, If you are reducing by 10% each week, to get down to a tenth of the original dose, it will take you 20 weeks to achieve this reduction. Patients receiving treatment on an inpatient basis may reduce benzodiazepine use by as much as 10% per day. Because anything below 10% would require the patient to remain in a hospital for an unreasonably long period of time. Whilst a benzodiazepine detox on an inpatient basis typically requires a lengthy inpatient stay, this method may be the only option for people with a full blow addiction to benzodiazepines.

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This will increase the likelihood of resuming your benzodiazepine use due to how miserable you feel. As benzodiazepine withdrawal we reflect on the journey of benzodiazepine withdrawal, it’s clear that it encapsulates more than the challenge of overcoming physical and psychological dependence. It’s a testament to the human capacity for endurance, the pursuit of well-being, and the transformative power of comprehensive care.

• Medical supervision during the detox process is vital for safe management of symptoms and minimizing the risk of severe complications, such as seizures or hallucinations.
• If you experience severe withdrawal symptoms during tapering, tell your doctor so they can adjust your care plan as needed.
• Benzodiazepines vary in their half-lives, meaning some remain in the body longer than others.

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The drug works by slowing the activity in drug addiction the brain, which promotes relaxation in the body and a reduction in anxious thoughts. ADT Healthcare specialise in supplying treatment options for addiction. From excessive screen time to disrupted relationships, take control of digital dependence. If you or a loved one are struggling with benzodiazepine misuse, call us at right now. We can help you find the treatment you need to reclaim control in your life once and for all.

Adverse side effects, tolerance, and benzodiazepine addiction may be factors that motivate you to begin benzodiazepine withdrawal. Benzodiazepine dependence requires tapering off of benzo medications. Patients must first be shown that their symptoms are part of the well-established phenomena of tolerance and benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. 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. Abruptly stopping benzodiazepine use (“cold turkey”) can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms.

They help treat mental health conditions such as anxiety disorder and panic disorders. To ensure the safety of detox and effective management of potential complications, continual medical oversight and support through counseling and therapy significantly enhance recovery outcomes. Typically, withdrawal effects manifest within 1 to 4 days after discontinuing the medication. While most acute symptoms generally last about 10 to 14 days, some individuals may experience persistent symptoms for several months. Private treatment providers such as Priory offer detox plans that are tailored to meet your needs and our experts are highly experienced in supporting people to recover from prescription drug addiction.

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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. Note that, unlike most addiction-prone drugs, there is little evidence of post-taper patients craving benzodiazepines. Most are seeking relief from the ongoing symptoms of physiologic dependence. Over time, benzo dependence may develop as the brain adapts to exposure to the drug.4 When people who are dependent on benzos stop consuming the drug, they may experience withdrawal symptoms.

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With prolonged use, the brain’s neurochemistry adjusts to compensate for the drug’s presence. This adjustment can lead to tolerance, where higher doses of the medication are required to achieve the same effect, and dependence, where the body needs the drug to function normally. The sudden absence of benzodiazepines forces the brain into a state of imbalance, triggering the withdrawal syndrome. Withdrawal from prescription drugs doesn’t always end when the these symptoms subside. Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) is a collection of related symptoms, including mood swings, sleep disturbances and intense cravings that can persist for weeks or even months. For people wanting to withdraw from prescription drugs, such as opiates, benzodiazepines or stimulants, the detox process can feel overwhelming.

• This part of the nervous system controls unconscious processes such as breathing, heartbeat and digestion.
• In a medical detox setting, withdrawal symptoms such as elevated heart rate, anxiety, and insomnia can be effectively managed.
• Symptoms typically emerge within a few hours to days after the last dose and may progress through various stages, from acute to protracted phases.

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• Abrupt cessation is not recommended for those who have been taking the drug for more than four weeks.
• After your detox, you can continue onto addiction treatment for long-term recovery.
• When the use of the drug is decreased or stopped, the sudden reduction in GABA activity leads to an imbalance, causing the nervous system to become hyperactive, a state manifesting as the myriad symptoms of withdrawal.
• Among respondents whose symptoms lasted months or years, over half said caffeine or alcohol worsened their PAWS symptoms.
• Conversely, those who have used benzodiazepines for a shorter period may experience a less severe withdrawal phase.
• Your care team can offer more guidance on safely trying these supplements.

If you’re wondering about this drug and whether it’s safe for anxiety, read on. We’ll break down how the drug is meant to be used, the main risks, and other ways to manage your anxiety. Many people suffer from insomnia and rebound anxiety for many months or even years after benzodiazepines were last taken, so the above table is only intended as a rough estimate. A condition known as Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) may last for up to two years following initial abstinence from benzodiazepines. Long-term benzodiazepine addiction causes ‘down-regulation’ of GABA receptors located throughout the central nervous system. This occurs when the GABA receptor is absorbed back into the nerve cell axon.

Withdrawal symptoms may begin after as little as 3–6 weeks of use, even when a person uses the drugs as the doctor directed. The symptoms of benzo withdrawal can vary, depending on many factors. Supportive counseling and other targeted therapies or medications may help a person manage the symptoms and improve their quality of life. People who have been through acute withdrawal often say that this phase is the most difficult. These drugs are habit-forming and can easily result in physical dependence.