You probably know that just coming off your benzos is not going to be enough … because without them you feel like life is unbearable. Specializing in this exact population for 17+ years has given us a huge volume of information and a long track record of success.
We Truly Are Benzo Experts …
Drug rehabs send us the throwaways they can’t treat … the worst benzo cases … and we get an 87.5% long-term success rate with them as documented by Dr. Michael Corrigan, a third-party researcher that teaches medical statistics at Marshall University.
What Types of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Do We Treat?
At Alternative to Meds Center, we treat all drugs in the benzodiazepine class. To learn more about each different type of benzodiazepine, click on the benzodiazepine drug type. We provide information, resources, facts, and FAQs on the most widely prescribed benzodiazepines, as well as information on safely quitting benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepine class drugs can cause extremely severe withdrawals; so it is important to know how to taper and quit benzodiazepines safely and as comfortably as possible.
Learn About the Alternatives to Benzodiazepines
[ ” “]Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
Tapering and Alternatives Book
This book is a brief overview of 17+ years worth of experience accumulated from cases we helped at the Alternative to Meds Center. It is based upon residential observation (which is far more informative than outpatient care). Every case is different, so while this is not a “how-to” or rule book, this information can give you a tour of various methods and methodologies we have used with confidence, and that contributed to our 87.5% documented success rate. Topics covered include various tapering and cross-over techniques, as well as the role of excitotoxic poisoning in protracted withdrawal. Protracted withdrawal is unnecessary but is more common than it needs to be, simply due to the lack of guidance and preparation given to physicians while in med school.
Traditional medical practice has found some success in using medications, primarily, for patients who suffer from stress-related mental health conditions. But the improvements that patients experience may be temporary due to tolerance, and at times accompanied by intolerable drug side effects.
Alternative to Meds Center knows there is a healthier way to treat people. Prescription medications may help alleviate certain symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, and other disorders but their effectiveness requires a gradual increase in dosage and frequency of use over time. This can be the double-edged sword of habitual medication use. In this mainstream method of treatment, it is highly likely that drug dependency arises. There are also harmful side effects of benzodiazepine withdrawal that present between doses, or when attempting to titrate or eliminate use. Through more than a decade and a half of internal research and case studies, we have found more effective and less invasive ways to remove benzodiazepine dependency in our patients and achieve resolution of their original symptoms.
Serious Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptoms
While some persons can discontinue benzodiazepines fairly easily, others experience some harsh and difficult reactions.
Serious benzodiazepine withdrawals can include:
- Akathisia*
- Suicidality
- Delirium, psychosis
- Rebound anxiety (can be severe)
- Seizures
*The Akathisia Alliance states that Akathisia is a very common symptom of benzodiazepine withdrawal, yet many clinicians are unaware of the phenomenon.
Common Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptoms
The below list is not a complete list, but these have been reported with significant frequency in the medical literature.
Common benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Panic attacks
- Sleep disturbances
- Rebound insomnia
- Anxiety
- Increased tension
- Hand tremors
- Heart palpitations
- Nausea, dry-retching
- Irritability
- Muscular pain and stiffness
- Perceptual changes
- Sweating
- Difficulty concentrating
- Weight loss
- Headache
Learn what we’ve discovered and how you can put benzo use behind you.
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Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Information
Each benzodiazepine drug type has its own unique chemical structure, side effects, and symptoms of withdrawal. However, there are many common questions about the benzodiazepine class of drugs in general. Below is a collection of some information that we get asked about most often about benzodiazepines and benzo withdrawal.
for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Help
ATMC Clinical Review Team
The ATMC Clinical Review Team includes licensed physicians and experienced healthcare professionals dedicated to ensuring the accuracy, quality, and integrity of our medical content. The team reviews articles for clinical accuracy, evidence-based guidance, and relevance while supporting Alternative to Meds Center’s whole-person approach to mental health, recovery, and long-term wellness.