Benzodiazepine Withdrawal: Our Guidance on What to Expect
Benzodiazepines have brought countless people relief from anxiety and insomnia. However, these medications aren’t always a walk in the park. Using them for long periods of time can lead to dependency, and when one decides to quit, withdrawal symptoms. If you’ve been prescribed benzodiazepines and are considering coming off the medication, the road ahead may be challenging, but it is possible to navigate. Here’s our guide to benzodiazepine withdrawal and how to discontinue it safely.
What Is Benzodiazepine Withdrawal?
Benzodiazepine withdrawal occurs when someone who has used these medications for an extended period decides to stop or reduce their dosage. While benzodiazepines like Xanax, Valium, and Ativan are highly effective in managing certain conditions, they can alter brain function over time. When the medication is discontinued, the brain may need time to adjust, resulting in withdrawal symptoms. Everyone experiences withdrawal differently, but symptoms can include:
- Anxiety or restlessness
- Insomnia
- Muscle aches or tremors
- Sweating
- Difficulty concentrating
- Increased heart rate
Why a Slow Approach to Quitting Is Essential
While you may be able to go cold turkey when quitting things like caffeine, it’s not recommended to completely stop taking your medication suddenly. Instead, most experts recommend tapering off your dose or gradually reducing your dosage over time. If you go about a tapering schedule correctly, you could experience fewer and less intense withdrawal symptoms. The goal is to give your brain enough time to adjust to lower levels of the medication and relearn to regulate anxiety without the drug.
Basic Steps for Tapering Off Benzodiazepines
Your safety is paramount when discontinuing any medication. To ensure you do so correctly, taking it one step at a time is essential. If you’re ready to quit benzodiazepines, follow these basic steps:
1. Consult With a Healthcare Professional
This one is non-negotiable. Before going any further, seek medical advice. A doctor or psychiatrist can evaluate your specific situation and determine a tapering plan based on your needs. Never attempt to discontinue any drug without the supervision of a healthcare professional.
2. Begin Your Tapering Plan
With a plan in place, you can start the tapering-off process with safety in mind. While every plan is different, a typical schedule involves a small dosage reduction every two to four weeks. However, the exact reduction amount will depend on your previous dosage and how long you’ve been using this particular benzodiazepine. For example:
- Short-acting benzodiazepines, like Xanax, might only require a few weeks between each dosage reduction.
- Long-acting benzodiazepines, like Valium, may need to be tapered more slowly to keep withdrawal symptoms manageable.
3. Ask About Long-Acting Benzodiazepines
Some doctors may suggest switching from a short-acting benzodiazepine to a longer-acting one. Long-acting benzodiazepines are metabolized more slowly by the body, which helps reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms during tapering. This approach isn’t suitable for everyone, and you should never switch medications without a doctor’s approval.
4. Monitor and Manage Withdrawal Symptoms
Even if you taper off your medication, you may still experience mild withdrawal symptoms. Fortunately, most of these can be managed with lifestyle adjustments and over-the-counter remedies. Things like nausea and restlessness usually aren’t too difficult to manage, but if your symptoms become more intense, reach out to your healthcare provider. Open communication will lead to a better experience for everyone.
5. Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes
A strong recovery from any kind of addiction requires more than just tapering off medication. Healthy habits can significantly reduce withdrawal symptoms and leave you feeling better overall. We recommend focusing on these three changes to support your recovery:
- Be More Mindful—Mindfulness and relaxation techniques can go farther than you think. Practices like yoga and meditation are great ways to manage anxiety and stress.
- Rethink Your Diet—How would you describe your diet? Consider finding ways to introduce more nutrients into your meals, as a healthy diet supports the body’s natural healing processes and may ease physical symptoms.
- Get Plenty of Sleep—Establishing consistent sleep routines helps combat insomnia, a common withdrawal symptom.
6. Find Support in Your Community
Withdrawal can feel isolating, and that’s why finding community is so important. Lean on trusted friends, family members, or support groups for encouragement and accountability. Many find that connecting with others navigating benzodiazepine withdrawal provides strength during challenging moments. If all else fails, our online therapists and psychiatrists are here for you.
Coping With Protracted Withdrawal Symptoms
Everyone’s recovery journey is unique. While some folks have a relatively straightforward path, others deal with persistent symptoms over months or years. This phenomenon is known as Protracted Withdrawal Symptoms (PAWS). Common signs include increased anxiety, memory lapses, and bouts of insomnia. Managing PAWS often involves professional counseling, ongoing lifestyle adjustments, and sometimes additional non-addictive medications to address specific symptoms. But don’t resign yourself to failure if recovery is taking longer than normal. With patience and consistent guidance from your psychiatrist, you can cope with PAWS.
When to Seek Emergency Help
While tapering off benzodiazepines is generally safe under medical guidance, there are times when withdrawal symptoms may escalate into an emergency. Seek immediate medical help if you experience:
- Seizures
- Severe confusion or hallucinations
- Intense chest pain or heart palpitations
- Suicidal thoughts
Take Control of Your Recovery Today
Discontinuing benzodiazepines is achievable with the right support. By following a medically supervised tapering plan, you can safely stop taking these medications. At Family Psychiatry and Therapy, we know that recovery isn’t always linear, so we’re here to help every step of the way. Our telehealth psychiatrists can meet with you online and give you the support you need from the comfort of your own home. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our New Jersey providers.
