BENZODIAZEPINES:

WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW CAN HURT YOU

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 Benzodiazepine Addiction

8 Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms

11 Professional Help for Benzo Withdrawal is Essential for Success

15 Relapse Prevention During Klonopin Withdrawal

19 Benzo Buddies and Other Support Groups: Do They Help or Hurt?

23 Recovery is Possible
INTRODUCTIO

Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that slow the central nervous system to produce a sense of
calm and well-being. Often used to treat anxiety and panic disorders, benzodiazepines include
drugs like Xanax, Klonopin, Valium and Librium. Benzos work by increasing levels of the brain
chemical GABA, which inhibits nerve transmissions in the brain to produce feelings of relaxation.
Benzos also increase the activity of the dopamine system, which leads to feelings of happiness and
euphoria.

When used as directed for the short-term, benzodiazepines are safe and effective. But when they’re
taken for non-medical purposes or in higher doses than prescribed, benzos can cause addiction and
dependence.

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BENZODIAZEPINE
ADDICTION
Addiction is characterized by the inability to stop using a drug
even though it’s causing problems in your life. A variety of
issues underlie most addictions and require therapy to work
through and resolve.

Dependence is different from addiction and is

characterized by withdrawal symptoms that set
in when you stop using a drug.

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HOW DEPENDENCE DEVELOPS

When you abuse benzodiazepines, your brain changes the way it

functions in order to compensate for the presence of the drug. For
example, since benzos increase dopamine and GABA activity, the
brain will reduce the activity of these neurotransmitters in an attempt
to normalize brain function.

This leads to tolerance, which means that you need increasingly larger
doses to get the desired effects. But as you increase your benzo
intake, the brain continues to change its function to compensate.

At some point, brain function may shift so that the brain now operates
more comfortably when benzos are present than when they’re not.
Then, when you stop using the drug, normal brain function rebounds,
causing withdrawal symptoms. Benzo withdrawal is uncomfortable,
and it can be dangerous.

According to the Center for Substance Abuse Research at the

University of Maryland, dependence most often develops in those
who have used benzodiazepines for six months or more.1

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 TREATING BENZO DEPENDENCE
Medical detox helps individuals end a
dependence. During detox, the drug is withheld
so that traces can leave the body and brain
function can begin to return to normal. Medical
detox is supervised by medical and mental health
professionals who administer medications to
reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms.
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However, due to the potentially dangerous side
effects of benzo withdrawal and the fact that no
medications have been approved by the FDA to
treat them, withdrawing from benzodiazepines
should be a matter of decreasing the dosage
over time to prevent the onset of dangerous
symptoms.
XANAX WITHDRAWAL
SYMPTOMS
Xanax is a benzodiazepine with high potency, and it’s one of the most
commonly prescribed and abused benzodiazepines. While all benzos
generally produce the same effects and have the same withdrawal
symptoms, different types have different potencies that can affect the
intensity of symptoms and how long Xanax withdrawal symptoms last.

Xanax is a short-acting benzodiazepine, so when you stop taking it,

Xanax withdrawal symptoms set in within one or two days after the
last dose. Xanax withdrawal symptoms can last for as few as two XANAX WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:
weeks or as many as four weeks. In some cases, symptoms can
• Intense cravings
persist even longer.
• Anxiety or panic attacks
The severity of Xanax withdrawal symptoms and the duration of
• Tremors
withdrawal typically depend on the dosage you’ve been taking, how
long you’ve been dependent and other factors like your age and your • Headache

general state of health. • Nausea

• Insomnia

• Restlessness

• Agitation or irritability

• Poor concentration

• Memory problems

• Muscle aches

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 During detox, dangerous Xanax withdrawal symptoms may occur,
including seizures and dangerous shifts in heart rate and blood pressure,
according to an article published in the journal American Family
Physician.2 For this reason, the safest way to manage Xanax withdrawal
symptoms is to gradually decrease the dosage.

The best way to do this is to base the length of time between each
dose reduction on the presence and severity of Xanax withdrawal
symptoms. The longer the interval between dose reductions, the safer
and more comfortable withdrawal will be. In general, there should
be at least a week between reductions. Benzo withdrawal symptoms
can fluctuate, but if symptoms worsen, a higher dose probably won’t
be given in order to relieve them. Rather, you’ll likely be kept on the
current dose until the symptoms subside and then continue with the
reduction schedule.

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PROFESSIONAL
HELP FOR BENZO
WITHDRAWAL IS
ESSENTIAL FOR
SUCCESS
Trying to go through benzo withdrawal on your own can
quickly lead back to heavy use if only to alleviate the
discomfort of the withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, since
benzo withdrawal can be dangerous or even fatal in some
circumstances, getting professional help is essential for your
safety and well-being.

Benzo withdrawal can take place through an inpatient or

outpatient medical detox program.

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 INPATIENT DETOX

Inpatient detox involves living at a facility while
going through benzo withdrawal. Inpatient
medical detox offers a high level of medical and
moral support from staff and peers. Inpatient
treatment is particularly important for severe
benzo withdrawal or for those who have been
through detox before.
During inpatient detox for benzo withdrawal,
medical and mental health professionals will
monitor your condition regularly and administer
doses of benzodiazepines on a set schedule.
Benefits of inpatient detox include the emotional
support it offers and its supervised nature, which
helps prevent relapse.

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OUTPATIENT DETOX

Outpatient detox for benzo withdrawal involves meeting with a

physician at a clinic on a regular basis to evaluate your condition
and manage the reduction schedule. You’ll be asked to contact the
program if you experience certain benzo withdrawal symptoms that
could turn dangerous.

During outpatient detox, you’ll reduce your dose according to

the schedule developed by your physician. The schedule for dose
reduction may be longer for outpatient detox than for inpatient detox,
since the shorter the reduction intervals, the more intense benzo
withdrawal may be.

Benefits of outpatient detox include a higher level of privacy and the

ability to continue working, caring for the family or attending school
while undergoing detox. Outpatient detox is best for people who have
a high level of intrinsic motivation to stop using benzos and who have
plenty of support at home.

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RELAPSE PREVENTION
DURING KLONOPIN
WITHDRAWAL
Klonopin is a long-acting benzodiazepine, which means that
Klonopin withdrawal will typically start between two and
seven days after the last dose and may last for eight weeks
or longer. Because symptoms may last longer with long-
acting benzos, you may be at a higher risk of relapse during
Klonopin withdrawal.

Cravings and stress are major triggers for relapse, and coping
with these and other triggers during Klonopin withdrawal
and withdrawal from other benzodiazepines is essential for
getting through detox successfully.

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 DETOX IS NOT ADDICTION TREATMENT

It’s important to understand that detoxing from benzodiazepines

is not the same thing as being treated for an addiction to them.
Addiction is characterized by compulsive drug use despite the
negative consequences they cause for your health, finances, legal
status and relationships. Addiction almost always has underlying
causes that must be addressed in order to successfully beat the
addiction for the long-term. Getting off benzos for good also depends
on developing essential skills and strategies that help you cope with
stress, negative emotions, cravings and other triggers.

Therapy during Klonopin withdrawal helps you develop essential

relapse prevention skills, and it’s a crucial factor in ending an
addiction to Klonopin or another benzodiazepine medication.

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 THREE RELAPSE PREVENTION STRATEGIES FOR KLONOPIN
WITHDRAWAL

Some relapse prevention skills you can practice during Klonopin withdrawal include:

Urge surfing. When you have a craving during Klonopin withdrawal, it’s important to understand that the
craving is temporary. Most cravings last 20 minutes to a half hour. You can reduce the intensity of the craving
by acknowledging it and mentally riding it like a wave until it peaks and then fades.

Meditating. Regular meditation practice reduces stress, which is a major factor for relapse. Meditation
changes the structures of the brain and reduces anxiety, depression, pain and other psychological stressors,
according to Harvard Medical School.3

Exercising. Exercise during Klonopin withdrawal can improve your mood, reduce stress, increase your sense
of well-being and reduce cravings. Regular exercise is an important part of addiction recovery and goes a
long way toward helping you restore good physical and mental health after an addiction.

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BENZO BUDDIES AND
OTHER SUPPORT
GROUPS: DO THEY
HELP OR HURT?
 Benzo Buddies is a popular online support group for people
going through benzo withdrawal. While many people find
Benzo Buddies helpful, others have found it and similar
websites to be more harmful than beneficial.

Because Benzo Buddies is privately run, many users complain

that their posts are censored or deleted. Additionally, while
Benzo Buddies puts an emphasis on staying positive, many
users share harrowing stories that can trigger some users.

A number of Benzo Buddies participants report that the

overall tone of the group is judgmental and can border on
abusive. An overarching theme on Benzo Buddies is that
seeking medical or other professional help for ending a
dependence on benzos is unnecessary, and it’s even frowned
upon. Some members of this forum dispense medical advice
while discouraging seeking the help of a professional.

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Most people who have an addiction need professional help to
overcome it, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
NIDA also stresses that good intentions and willpower are rarely
enough to send an addiction into remission for the long-term.4

Quitting taking benzodizapines is only part of the battle. The rest of

the battle is identifying and changing self-destructive thought and
behavior patterns, getting mental illnesses like anxiety and depression
under control and developing the skills you need for successful
ongoing abstinence.

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 Although Benzo Buddies and other privately run
forums don’t offer the type or level of support
many people need, support groups in general can
be enormously helpful for ending dependence and
addiction for the long-term. In fact, support from
family, friends and others in recovery is one of
the pillars of recovery, according to the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.5
But choosing a high-quality, well-moderated
support group is essential for getting the best level
of moral support and the most sound advice.
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Well-known and reputable support groups for
addiction include Narcotics Anonymous, SMART
Recovery and, for those with a co-occurring
mental illness, Dual Recovery Anonymous. These
groups are recommended by the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
and offer both in-person and online meetings
and provide quality moderation and facilitation.
RECOVERY IS
POSSIBLE
 Benzo withdrawal doesn’t have to be miserable or
dangerous, and you don’t have to be a slave to your addiction
any longer. Detox and addiction treatment lead to successful
recovery and a higher quality of life and well-being. Seek
professional help today if you or someone you love is
struggling with benzodiazepine addiction.

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 SOURCES

1. Benzodiazepines. (2013, October 29). Retrieved from http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/benzos.asp

2. Longo, L. P., & Johnson, B. (2000, April 1). Addiction: Part 1. Benzodiazepines—Side Effects, Abuse Risk and Alternatives.
American Family Physician, 61(7), 2121-2128. Retrieved from https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0401/p2121.html

3. Corliss, J. (2014, January 8). Mindfulness Meditation May Ease Anxiety, Mental Stress.
Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mindfulness-meditation-may-ease-anxiety-mental-stress-201401086967

4. Understanding Drug Use and Addiction. (2016, August).

Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction

5. SAMHSA’s Working Definition of Recovery: 10 Guiding Principles of Recovery. (2012).

Retrieved from https://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/PEP12-RECDEF/PEP12-RECDEF.pdf

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 EMBRACE YOUR RECOVERY

REDISCOVER YOURSELF

Roots Through Recovery is dedicated to providing outpatient addiction treatment

solutions for people to reclaim their lives and create their own path of recovery.

844-904-7114

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