5 Φεβρουαρίου 2021
A major disadvantage of benzodiazepines is that tolerance to therapeutic effects develops relatively quickly while many adverse effects persist. An estimated 50-80% of people who have taken benzodiazepines continually for a few weeks or longer will experience withdrawal symptoms when reducing the dose; a smaller percentage will experience severe withdrawal. People taking benzodiazepines regularly long term (longer than 2 to 4 weeks) may have symptoms of withdrawal even when they have not reduced the dose. These withdrawal symptoms can be attributed to tolerance or interdose withdrawal.
They will make this decision on a case-by-case basis, depending on the type and severity of the symptoms affecting the individual. People looking to get off benzos should do so under the guidance of a healthcare professional, benzodiazepine withdrawal who may recommend coping strategies and other tools to make the withdrawal process more comfortable. For instance, snorting or injecting benzos sends the drugs straight into the bloodstream to take almost instant effect.
What Are the Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal?
However, benzodiazepines can cause physical dependence and withdrawal even when they are taken as directed. Benzodiazepines are a group of central nervous system depressants used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. Benzodiazepines are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the country. Several types of benzodiazepines are sold under popular brand names like Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be dangerous, especially for users with severe dependence and those with pre-existing health issues. Serious symptoms caused by benzo withdrawal can include psychosis and seizures.6 Left unmanaged, withdrawal seizures may be progressive, difficult to control, and potentially lethal.
- People taking benzodiazepines regularly long term (longer than 2 to 4 weeks) may have symptoms of withdrawal even when they have not reduced the dose.
- It is unrealistic to think that withdrawal management will lead to sustained abstinence.
- There is some evidence that lithium carbonate may be an effective medication for cannabis withdrawal management.
- The length of time between each dose reduction should be based on the presence and severity of withdrawal symptoms.
And often, the first step toward recovery begins with detox and withdrawal management. Other therapies, including counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), may be helpful for people looking to manage symptoms without relying on other drugs. Tapering the drug by slowly reducing the prescription strength may help make withdrawal symptoms much easier to manage. Additionally, medical supervision allows doctors to respond much more quickly to potential side effects and withdrawal symptoms. The main cause of the symptoms of benzo withdrawal is the sudden reduction of dopamine in the brain.
Management of moderate alcohol withdrawal (AWS score 5-
On exam, the alcoholic withdrawal signs and symptoms may include hyperventilation, tachycardia, tremor, hypertension, diaphoresis, or hypothermia. Other features of chronic alcohol use disorder include ascites, hepatosplenomegaly, and melena. Thinning of hair, spider angioma, and gynecomastia are all also seen in patients with chronic alcohol use disorder. Management of alcohol withdrawal is based on the patient’s history and current clinical status. The single best predictor of the likelihood of future withdrawal symptoms when alcohol is concerned is the patient’s previous history, e.g., the presence or absence of seizures or delirium tremens (Table 1).