Benzo Withdrawal Timeline: Stoned to Sober

Benzodiazepine withdrawal differs from opioid use disorder or amphetamine withdrawal due to the high seizure risk and rebound anxiety. Unlike many other drugs, the effects of long-term sedative use are deeply tied to GABA receptors and central nervous system regulation. This makes professional treatment essential for managing both short-term symptoms and long-term recovery goals. Symptoms originally treated by the drug—such as anxiety, insomnia, or seizures—return with greater intensity due to GABA receptor dysfunction in the brain and nervous system. This heightened state of panic or agitation can be accompanied by elevated blood pressure, palpitations, or rebound insomnia, making the patient more likely to relapse into medication or alcohol use. Benzodiazepines are a class of sedative-hypnotic drugs used to treat anxiety, panic disorders, insomnia, seizures, and muscle spasms.

• During withdrawal (whether due to tolerance or tapering) and recovery, patients often experience an irregular, unpredictable cycling between relative lessening and exacerbation of symptoms.
• The cause of this cycling has been the subject of much speculation, and is one of the areas of research by the Alliance (see Initiatives).
• These are generally patients who were highly dependent on benzos and who did not taper off from benzos with the help of a medical professional.

How Luxury Rehab Centers Integrate Mental Health and Addiction Treatment

It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. Protracted benzo withdrawal is when symptoms continue for weeks or even months after acute withdrawal ends. This occurs because benzodiazepines affect brain chemistry, and healing takes time. As the brain adapts to the medication, GABA receptor sensitivity decreases, requiring higher doses to maintain the same sedative, anxiolytic, or hypnotic effect. Over time, the risk of developing benzodiazepine use disorder rises, particularly when used without physician oversight or combined with other substances. They are prescribed for short-term relief but carry a high risk of substance dependence, especially with long-term use.

• The 2022 survey mentioned above also asked respondents to what extent withdrawal symptoms affected their lives.
• It was also reported that the risk of death in patients using less than 18 pills per year is increased by 3.6-fold 48.
• Our programs address both the physical and psychological toll of benzodiazepine withdrawal, offering addiction expertise within a strong recovery community.
• The body becomes more deeply accustomed to the drug’s effects, requiring a more gradual tapering process to minimize withdrawal symptoms.

The Role of Detox in Outpatient Settings

Knowing that you’re not going through this alone and having the support and encouragement of others will help you get through this. While medical supervision is optimal, self-care and support systems can make benzo withdrawal more manageable. The role of psychological and environmental factors should not be underestimated. Sobriety Stress, lack of social support, and unstable living conditions can exacerbate withdrawal symptoms and hinder recovery. Conversely, a supportive environment and strong social support network can significantly improve the withdrawal experience. It is important to note that improving sleep during benzodiazepine withdrawal may take time and patience.

Causes & Risk Factors

The subjects in this study had mild to moderate Alzheimer’s dementia and showed no change in AD-Cog scores after treatment with BZD 74. Interestingly, in this same study, SSRIs and atypical antipsychotics showed the same results; however, trazodone actually improved the NPI 75. The use and discontinuation of alprazolam within 2 weeks disrupt sleep onset and quality, increasing suicide risks 51. A study analyzing over 1000 cases of oxycodone-related drug abuse deaths showed that BZDs are among the most abused drugs by individuals using multiple drugs of abuse. The study showed that in oxycodone users, combination use with diazepam was the most prevalent 44.

• The definition of dependency is having withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it.
• It would be important to identify this group as well asthose for whom withdrawal is difficult; the latter need specialists to treatthem, but not the former.
• Dr. Sanjai Thankachen graduated from Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medicine in 2000.
• Common symptoms include muscle tension, tremors, headaches, digestive issues, and heart palpitations.

Long-term use is defined as two or more months at a therapeutic dose and when used long-term, BZDs pose potential harmful effects. Some additional benzodiazepines withdrawal symptoms side effects of concern include aggressive behavior and expressing anger towards others in between 1% and 20% of users 17. The main driving factor for dependence is the development of tolerance, causing users to need increasing doses for the same symptom relief 18.