Benzodiazepine Addiction, Side Effects & Rehab Treatment

High-risk patients are best managed with initial stabilisation and maintenance therapy in specialist residential or outpatient addiction services. While these studies do not establish a cause-and-effect relationship, they do suggest a strong correlation between long-term benzo use and dementia. The mechanism for how long-term use of benzo could lead to cognitive impairments has been unknown. Take our free, 5-minute substance abuse self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance abuse.

Long-Term Treatment for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

These ions change the neuron’s electrical charge, so it has to work much harder to activate and send signals. Among respondents whose symptoms lasted months or years, over half said caffeine or alcohol worsened their PAWS symptoms. They can range in severity, though for some people, they remain mild and manageable.

• According to the National Center for PTSD, the most beneficial kind of therapy for benzodiazepine withdrawal is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
• Always consult your healthcare provider about how drug interactions should be managed before making any changes to your current medications.
• Respiratory compromise is uncommon in isolated benzodiazepine ingestions, but if taken with coingestants such as ethanol or other drugs/medications, respiratory depression can be noted.
• The decrease in nervous system activity makes these medications helpful for a variety of symptoms and conditions.
• Long-acting benzodiazepines are used to help with the effects of acute alcohol withdrawal.

Signs and Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

A person who uses them for 3–4 weeks and then stops suddenly is likely to experience withdrawal symptoms. People who use them in the long term may need to withdraw their use over a 3–12 month period that their doctor should oversee. This is not all the information you need to know about benzodiazepines for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Discuss any medical questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

Are benzodiazepines commonly prescribed?

Some additional 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]. For short-acting benzodiazepines, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ such as alprazolam, rebound symptoms may appear between doses,1 which typically leads to dose escalation with temporary relief of these symptoms,4 as in this case scenario. This patient has developed numerous concerning adverse effects, including tolerance, physiologic dependence, and withdrawal.

Other important indications for the use of BZDs include the treatment of catatonia, seizure disorders, and alcohol and BZD withdrawal. The drug class is the mainstay of treatment for catatonia, which is characterized by postural rigidity, immobility, purposeless activity, and disturbances in one’s consciousness [10]. Catatonia presents in populations suffering from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or a variety of medical conditions. BZDs act on the CNS to exert anxiolytic and sedative effects and, together with electroconvulsive therapy, are the mainstay therapy for catatonia [13]. Flumazenil functions through competitive inhibition of the alpha-gamma subunit of the GABA-A receptor.

Common uses for benzodiazepines

Tapering means taking progressively smaller doses over the course of a few weeks or months. The mainstay treatment for acute benzodiazepine toxicity is supportive care, which may include endotracheal intubation to provide definitive airway management. benzodiazepine withdrawal Single-dose or multi-dose activated charcoal, hemodialysis, or whole bowel irrigation play no role in managing benzodiazepine toxicity. Your doctor may prescribe benzodiazepines if you are experiencing severe anxiety or if you’re very distressed.

BZDs gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s through household names such as The Rolling Stones and numerous Hollywood movies sensationalizing Valium (diazepam). BZDs were encouraged for anyone wanting to calm their nerves and ease their sleep, causing them to rapidly attain favor in society [6]. Additionally, given the continual rise of anxiety and sleep-disordered problems over the decades, BZDs remain a regular fixture in the United States today [7].

Can you prevent withdrawal?

From 1996 to 2013, benzodiazepine prescriptions increased by 2.5% each year, making it one of the most prescribed medications in the world. Substance abuse disorder treatment centers reported admissions for benzodiazepine abuse as the sole primary substance or drug of choice to have increased by 109% between 2003 and 2013. The risk of falls leading to injuries in elderly BZD users is significantly increased in patients greater than 80 years old, while the increased risk is not significant in patients under 80 [22]. Passaro et al. described an increased risk of falls in elderly hospitalized patients prescribed short-acting BZD [23].

• Since these are prescription drugs, it is critical to note that some individuals may initially have a legitimate medical reason to use them, but over time, they develop a use disorder.
• Alprazolam is widely used as monotherapy for panic disorder and anxiety and was found superior to other forms of monotherapy for these conditions including other BZD, non-SSRI antidepressants, and buspirone.
• Their sedative effect aids in sleep and insomnia disorders by reducing sleep onset latency.
• Your healthcare provider can tell you more about the laws surrounding prescribing these medications and the recommended schedule for you to return for a follow-up visit.
• This same mechanism is also thought to be the cause behind alprazolam’s strong rebound hyperadrenergic effects with cessation [54,55].
• Certain benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam, clobazam, chlordiazepoxide, and others, are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).