What Are Benzodiazepines? Side Effects & Withdrawal Symptoms

At the point that use is decreased or ended, the body goes through benzo withdrawal. The symptoms of withdrawal can range from slight discomfort to life-threatening. Especially when taken outside of medical supervision, benzodiazepine has the potential for misuse. While no substance use disorder looks exactly the same for every person, there are a variety of benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms that can occur.

• Discuss any medical questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.
• A person who uses them for 3–4 weeks and then stops suddenly is likely to experience withdrawal symptoms.
• Chronic, non-emergency conditions are usually treatable with lower-strength, longer-acting benzodiazepines.
• One study compared the mainstay of treatment with a standardized interview/counselling approach to treatment 72.

Types of benzodiazepines

The relationship between Twelve-step program hypnotics and cancer was expanded upon by Kripke et al. They found a 35% increased chance of developing a new non-melanoma cancer in users of hypnotics 48. In agreeing with some of the studies above, there was also a 4.6-fold increase in the hazard of death in patients on hypnotics over 2.5 years 48.

1. Indications for Benzodiazepines

You also need to be watchful for the many possible side effects that can come with Benzodiazepine use. If you have too many issues with side effects, then your doctor can alter your prescription or possibly switch you to an alternative medication. The brain controls body systems via chemicals called neurotransmitters. These drugs interfere with the creation or interpretation of these brain chemicals. These medications are classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as Schedule IV drugs.

1. Symptoms of Withdrawal

Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products you’re taking before you start on a benzodiazepine. Your doctor may need to change your dose or closely monitor you while taking a benzodiazepine. If you use any of these drugs for too long, you can experience symptoms of withdrawal if you suddenly stop.

Why Benzodiazepines Work

Several studies have examined the relationship between BZD use and mortality. In a systematic review of research, Charlson et al. could not find conclusive evidence supporting increased risk of mortality in BZD users 43. In their analysis of six retrospective studies, half of them showed no significant relationship between BZD use and mortality.

• Benzodiazepines such as diazepam may also be used short-term as a muscle relaxant with caution in patients without a history of drug misuse or addiction.
• According to certain 2019 recommendations, people with severe anxiety or panic attack disorder should be prescribed the lowest effective dose of benzodiazepines for no more than 2 to 4 weeks.
• Drug prices are subject to change at any time and may differ among pharmacies.
• Users can rapidly become dependent if they use large amounts or use the drug for a longer period of time than is recommended.
• Oxcarbazepine has a better side effect profile and is a more tolerable anticonvulsant than older antiepileptic drugs 71.

Slowed breathing is the most serious side effect caused by interactions between benzos and other drugs. Other serious side effects of drug interactions with benzos include weak pulse, low body temperature and increased risk of injury from accidents. Taking these medications exactly as prescribed makes that unlikely, but it’s still possible. Your healthcare provider can tell you more about what you can do to avoid dependence on these drugs or developing benzodiazepine use disorder. In those without co-existing conditions such as depression or a history of substance abuse, benzodiazepines may be used cautiously for a short period of time. Studies show that benzodiazepines such as lorazepam are effective for treating both the physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety.

How to Recognize Benzodiazepine Abuse

Their CNS depressant effects potently reduce anxiety and abort acute-onset panic and anxiety attacks 4. Benzodiazepines are also incredibly effective at rapidly aborting convulsant activity in those with epilepsy or other seizure disorders 5. Alcohol, opioids and barbiturates are the most commonly used substances that interact with benzodiazepines. Opioids are powerful prescription pain relievers that include morphine, oxycodone and hydrocodone.

Given their lipid solubility, BZDs have a high volume of distribution in the body, which translates to higher tissue concentrations than blood. After exerting their effect, BZDs are metabolized primarily by the liver and excreted by conjugation, so they should be used in caution in the elderly, smokers, and those with liver disease or damage 3. Due to their rapid onset and immediate symptom relief, BZDs are used for those struggling with sleep, anxiety, spasticity due to CNS pathology, muscle relaxation, and epilepsy. Their sedative effect aids in sleep and insomnia disorders by reducing sleep onset latency.