The main cause of the symptoms of benzo withdrawal is the sudden reduction of dopamine in the brain. Some symptoms may appear without warning and can be a significant source of distress. Ketamine is a phencyclidine analog that was initially recognized for its anesthetic properties and has been more recently evaluated for its use as an analgesic, antidepressant, and anxiolytic [14]. Ketamine use has become increasingly popular for nonopioid pain control, sedation of agitated patients, and procedural analgesia and anesthesia [15,16].
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In most cases, your doctor will reduce your dosage by 5% to 25% in the first week. Every 1 to 4 weeks after that, they’ll reduce your dose by another 5% to 25% of the original dose. Medical https://ecosoberhouse.com/ experts continue to debate the best way to taper these medications, so there’s no single agreed-upon approach. Benzodiazepines have a sedative effect because of how they work in your brain.
How severe are the symptoms of withdrawal?
Practices such as drug tapering or using other drugs to help ease withdrawal may make early withdrawal symptoms milder and more manageable. To view a comprehensive A-Z list of benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms, go here. The article revolves around a sound and painstaking analysis of 1,207 benzodiazepine users from benzodiazepine support groups and health/wellness sites. We conducted an internet survey of current and former benzodiazepine users and asked about their symptoms and adverse life events attributed to benzodiazepine use. Though therapy generally can’t address withdrawal symptoms specifically, it can help improve some symptoms, like anxiety and insomnia. In addition to the immediate health risk, benzodiazepine withdrawal can seriously affect your quality of life.
The findings of a large survey support the FDA’s “boxed warning” from 2020.
A total of 1,207 respondents finished the survey although not all respondents gave an answer to every question and some questions allowed for multiple answers. Respondents to the survey might have been taking their full dose of benzodiazepines, engaged in the process of tapering off benzodiazepines, or had fully discontinued benzodiazepines. Respondents were asked to select among 23 symptoms they may severe benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome have experienced and to indicate the duration of each symptom (see S1 Appendix). Of all respondents, 88.1% reported having anxiety, nervousness, or fear; 86.9% sleep disturbances; 86.2% low energy levels; and 85.3% difficulty focusing or distractedness. Some respondents reported these symptoms occurring following complete cessation of benzodiazepines and for long-term durations of months or years.
- Emerging research also suggests acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) could also have benefits during benzodiazepine withdrawal.
- Nevertheless, an awareness that symptoms may be protracted is important for clinicians supervising benzodiazepine withdrawal; proper management of the initial withdrawal can decrease the incidence, severity and duration of protracted symptoms and improve the prospects for eventual recovery.
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- Among respondents whose symptoms lasted months or years, over half said caffeine or alcohol worsened their PAWS symptoms.
Stopping benzodiazepines all at once can be dangerous, so your doctor will likely guide you through a tapering regimen that involves gradually reducing your dose over time. If you experience severe withdrawal symptoms during tapering, tell your doctor so they can adjust your care plan as needed. Withdrawal symptoms occur during dose reduction and may include insomnia, anxiety, distress, weight loss, dizziness, night sweats, shakes, muscle twitches, aphasia, panic attacks, depression, derealization, paranoia, indigestion, diarrhea, and photophobia.
- Short-acting benzodiazepines are much more likely to cause rebound symptoms.
- In opioid or benzodiazepine addiction, chronic stimulation of specific receptors for these drugs suppresses endogenous production of neurotransmitters, endorphins or GABA.
- They could rate each problem as nonexistent, mild, moderate, severe, quite severe, or enormous.
Ketamine: A Potential Adjunct for Severe Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
