Can anyone please let me know the withdrawl symptoms of benzos? I've been through opiate withdrawl, but have heard bezo can be even worse. Also how long would you have to take on a regular basis before you would experience withdrawl from the benzos?
Any answers and help here would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the question. I was going to post a poll on this very topic. I too hear that Benzo W/D is worse than Heroin. I cant see that being true. Never went through Benzo W/D yet however, but opiate many times. So, anyone that has gone through both, please explain the difference between the 2 and which is worse.

Also, been taking 2-5 mg xanax per day for over 2 years - usually 2mgs. Do i need to worry?

I am also curious about what benzo withdrawal feels like. I don't think I've read about this on the board, but have read about and experienced opiate withdrawals. can't imagine how anything could be worse that that!

since benzo's calm you, wouldn't withdrawal be a bout of being nervous, jittery and sleepless? I suspect it is more than that though. why could it be life threatening? I've read that xanax withdrawal is.

what is benzo withdrawal like?

Search Google videos for "Xanax withdrawal". Someone posted a link a wjile ago. It does consist of an exacerbation of the original symptoms the drug was intended to treat, like you say, but multiplied many times. However, seizures are the main risk because they can result in death whereas opioid withdrawal is not dangerous, though highly unpleasant.

A condition resembling delerium tremens may accompany benzodiazepine withdrawal.

The shorter acting the drug, the worse and more sudden the withdrawal will be. The doctors out there prescribing alprazolam for general anxiety do not seem to have grasped this fact.

Good site.

http://www.benzo.org.uk/index.htm

How to taper

http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/index.htm

Sorry Scruf, I couldn't find that video posted by someone a while ago. It showed a man in acute withdrawal, basically unable to control his body or speech. I did find a small clip of Heather Ashton, however:

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?doci...earch&plindex=5

*ACUTE* Benzodiazepine withdrawals can be extremely unpleasant, and possible dangerous. Are they worse than opiate withdrawals? Well, the withdrawal symptoms certainly last longer. Opiate withdrawals can be brutal, but they are generally shorter.

Someone taking modest doses of benzos, say 40mg of diazepam or equivalent, or less a day, shouldn't have too much of a problem getting off the drug, if they taper properly.

The symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawals are extremely subjective. However, I'd say you can count on increases anxiety, insomnnia, hyperreflexia and oversensitivity to sound and other stimulus.

Hi Steve. 2mg of Xanax a day isn't a a life threatening problem. If you want to get off of the drugs, switch to a long acting benzo such as klonopin or librium and taper over a period of about 4-5 months.

In a word: Hypersensitivity. If you ween off the drugs, slowly, you shouldn't have too much trouble getting off them. Unlike other drugs, most people do not experience cravings for increasing amounts and uncontrolled use.

Is this it Nephro?




http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?doci...earch&plindex=5

I think that's the same one I posted. There's one that someone posted that shown a man in acute withdrawal from alprazolam, and cannot control his body or speech.

This one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDbPnAQ-c1o


That's 29 year klonopin regimen, though.

I'm glad you brought that information to light. It does change one's perspective. I wonder how long it took him to get better, if he ever did. It was very sad to watch.

Now we know why docs don't like to prescribe for too long. Sad, but true. However, we are all different with tolerances. You just have to listen to your body. Long, hot baths help and soothing music.

Thanks Whacker1 - my mistake, it was clonazepam, not alprazolam. But that's the video I remembered.

I wonder how long it took for the withdrawal syndrome to appear after abrupt discontinuation of the clonazepam? Even one of his TOES goes into spasm! He looks like he could seize at any time. Very frightening indeed.

My doctor informed me that only people treating seizure disorders are at risk of seizures from discontinuing use, not that those treating anxiety would suddenly have seizures where they to stop that particular form of treatment.

i wish he was right...

Fluff I am no doctor, but I am 99.9% positive that information is wrong. Long time high dose benzo users are very susceptible to seizures or worse. Even long term low dose users are at risk. Prior seizure issues or not. I cannot believe a doctor said this to you.

Note: This man was prescribed clonazepam by a NEUROLOGIST, for reasons not specified. The tics/spasms may have an underlying biological reason, and not exist purely from drug withdrawal.

The video was posted a year ago, four months after CT withdrawal. 4 months ago a user posted this:

"This guy is my best buddy. He's now my WORKOUT buddy in the gym. His recovery is beyond miraculous!!! Not out of the woods yet, but WOW... GOD IS REAL!!! ASK MARCO!!! "


This fellow had the good sense to taper:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm3fo28Oum0

Seizures are actually uncommon in most cases. Even Ashton admits this:

http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzcha03.htm

"Fits, convulsions. Benzodiazepines are potent anticonvulsants. They can be life-saving in status epilepticus (repeated fits, one after another) and in fits caused by overdose of certain drugs (for example, tricyclic antidepressants). However, rapid withdrawal, especially from high potency benzodiazepines, can precipitate epileptic fits as a rebound reaction. Such an occurrence is extremely rare with slowly eliminated benzodiazepines (e.g. diazepam) or with slow dosage tapering. If a fit does occur in these circumstances, it is usually only a single fit and causes no lasting damage. Other phenomena seen in rapid withdrawal are psychotic symptoms, severe confusion and delirium, but again these hardly ever occur with slow dosage tapering. By following the withdrawal schedules outlined in Chapter II, you can be confident of avoiding these complications."

Yes, my doctor was very clear that such info applied to people who already had seizure disorders. My doctor was also diligent about making sure I taper on/off other anti-seizure medicines that were not habit forming. I am sure depending on age/medical history, guidance would be different. My doctor also told me that if you ever do feel a threatening withdrawal symptom from a drug and are near a pharmacy to tell the pharmacist and they will usually supply you with enough until you get to a doctor, if necessary.

I'm sure this would work...excuse me sir I am suffering from oxy withdrawl can I please hav a couple oxy 80's until my next doctors appointment.

I was speaking in regards to being at risk of seizure.

I think your doctor meant life threatening, but it is good to know. The pharmacy will probably call EMS. You can also go to the Emergency room. You may not get what you want or find much in the way of sympathy/relief, but they can hopefully keep an eye on your vital signs, but who knows. I have read horror stories lately about hospitals. I am not/never have been a big benzo user, but with all drugs be careful.

Even discomfort. If you are on a high dosage of a medication that requires incremental stages to work up to that dosage, skipping even a day can be noticeable, though not life threatening. Obviously walking into a random pharmacy and asking for a controlled substance is crazy, but I have gone to the same pharmacy that fills my rx's monthly and they have given me a few days worth of a non-narcotic medicine until my next doctors appointment/refill.

Actually, it is true and I can verify it from not only personal experience, but knowing many other people who used high doses for a long, long time. Each person has a unique chemistry. If there is a gene in there set to go off for a seizure, then it's possible. But if one has been seizure free prior, then it's not so probable. Restless legs, no sleep, agitation, yes. Definitely. Seizures--for the large majority, not likely or lethal.

And that's according to my meds/surg and psych chemicals books, too.

Feeding on the fear is a far bigger problem.

Please cite one example of someone experiencing "worse" than a seizure, from long term, low dose benzodiazepine use.

Again, even the high priestess of benzophobia, Heather Ashton, admits that seizures from benzodiazepine withdrawals are usually associated with:

a) exceedingly high doses.
b) abrupt discontinuation of rapidly elimated benzodiazepines
c) non-lethal, one time events

PURE HELL!! -ck

I ran short of valium a while back. I was advised to go to the hospital and just spill the beans. I walked in and told them what and how much I am taking and the doc just pulled out the pad and wrote a 4 day script...... no questions asked. They don't screw around with benzo withdrawal. Just go straight to the emergency room. Its shockingly easy. Im in Canada by the way ...... don't know if that matters.

I stopped xanax cold turkey. I greatly underestimated my physical addiction. It is a million times worse than I would have ever guessed. I felt like I was on some bad acid or something lol.. and there is NOTHING that can help except a benzo. Taking gravol and other OTC meds that normally knock me out actually had an opposite effect while I was in withdrawal.

...and it remains the most commonly prescribed benzodiazepine in the USA. I wonder if this will ever change?