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Bromazepam Withdrawal Symptoms | Lexotan Side Effects, Treatment Help

Last Updated on September 17, 2022 by Carol Gillette

Alternative to Meds Editorial Team
Medically Reviewed by Dr Michael Loes MD

Bromazepam side effects can be harsh which adds to the challenges of bromazepam withdrawal. All benzos carry risks of addiction or dependence. Bromazepam prescriptions soared in 2020 in Spain and other European countries. Bromazepam was patented in the 1970s, but is not FDA-approved or sold currently in the US or Canada.3,6

Pregnant or nursing mothers should not take bromazepam.8 Special care must be taken when stopping the use of bromazepam.

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Bromazepam Side Effects

The side effects of Bromazepam are not unlike those of other benzodiazepine drugs such as Valium©. Not all possible side effects are listed here; if a person experiences significant discomfort, seek medical attention immediately.

Like all benzodiazepines, some of the side effects can be quite mild and easy enough to tolerate, especially if the drug is only taken occasionally. With more long-term use, other reactions can be so harsh that a person will want to stop the drug. But please remember, it is not safe to abruptly stop taking benzodiazepine medications after regular use.

Benzodiazepines are a common choice for intended (self-administered) overdose, and are heavily implicated in accidental/iatrogenic overdose as well. Bromazepam was reported as the most commonly used benzodiazepine for intended suicide from emergency room reports out of France for the years 1992-1993 and 2001-2002. Reversal of benzo lethality is possible with the use of a benzodiazepine agonist called flumazenil if administered in time. Flumazenil is FDA-approved for the reversal of benzodiazepine overdose.2,4,9

Bromazepam side effects include:
  • Paradoxical reactions: Although bromazepam is a sedative, opposite effects can occur. These paradoxical reactions are reportedly more likely to occur in the elderly. They include increased anxiety, restlessness, depression, delusions, rage, nightmares, etc.
  • Severe allergic reaction ( abdominal cramps, nausea, sudden fever, rash, raised welts or swelling in the face, mouth, or throat, loss of consciousness, confusion, agitation, etc.) for which swift medical attention is essential.
  • Sedation
  • Pregnant and nursing women should not take bromazepam as it can harm the baby.8,13
  • Depression, anxiety, agitation
  • Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Decreased interest in things that usually were of interest
  • Tachycardia
  • Aural or visual hallucinations
  • Insomnia, nightmares
  • Memory impairment, anterograde amnesia (cannot form new memories, resulting in memory loss)
  • Cognitive impairments and significant learning capacity reduction
  • Drowsiness
  • Deteriorated motor skill performance, i.e., delayed reflexes while driving or operating machinery, loss of coordination.
  • Decreased libido
  • Dystonia (rare condition of muscle spasms, jerks, repetitive movements or twisting of the body, face, etc.)
  • Liver damage* 12
  • Constipation
  • Headache
  • Slurred speech
  • Nausea

*A person should get regular medical exams to monitor liver damage from bromazepam. “During the chronic administration, the liver weight increased 30-40%, with concomitant enlargement of the liver,” according to Fukazawa et al’s study.

Bromazepam Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms will emerge after taking the drug for more than one week. Withdrawal from bromazepam can be ruinously harsh — therefore the drug should never be abruptly stopped but slowly tapered off under medical supervision.

If the tapering process is done slowly and with adequate support, withdrawals may be mild to moderate. However, some effects may present as more intense than expected even with a gradual reduction, and may require medical intervention to avoid protracted withdrawal, and though rare, fatality.2

Bromazepam withdrawal symptoms include:
  • A return or worsening of symptoms such as anxiety, depression
  • Agitation
  • Confusion
  • Tremors
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Tension
  • Muscle pain
  • Irritability
  • Insomnia
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Restlessness
  • Drug cravings* 

*Bromazepam should be taken only over a very short time frame due to risks of addiction and drug dependence, according to broad medical consensus.1,6

What is Bromazepam Used For?

Bromazepam is used as an anti-anxiety agent or sedative. It is sometimes prescribed “as needed,” for instance, to prevent an occasional full-blown panic attack, for sleeping, to alleviate occasional tension, or before minor surgery.

Unfortunately, the drug can quickly become addictive and can become extremely hard to stop after a person takes it regularly for more than 1 or 2 weeks. Paradoxical effects, as mentioned above under “side effects,” can significantly complicate the use of and withdrawal from bromazepam and similar benzodiazepines.

Bromazepam Alternative Names and Slang

Bromazepam is not sold in the US but is available in France, Spain, and possibly other countries under trade names such as Bromaze©, Somalium©, Lexotan©, Lexotanil©, Brazepam©, and others.

It is not clear whether slang names have developed over the 50+ years it has been around, except that as it is a benzodiazepine drug, in some circles it might be generally referred to as “a downer,” “a trank,” “candy,” or simply “a benzo.”

Bromazepam Tolerance = Withdrawal Symptoms

The body quickly develops tolerance to benzodiazepines, requiring more of the drug to attain the same level of sedation. When the drug is withdrawn, even after as little as a couple of weeks, bromazepam withdrawals will likely present. These can be severe reactions, in some cases life-threatening especially after long-term use, if the drug is stopped abruptly.1

Always seek medical assistance so that the drug can be slowly tapered down to reduce withdrawal symptoms as much as possible.

About Bromazepam — FAQs

Information on bromazepam is not as readily available in the US as it is elsewhere. Below you will find information we have found relating to bromazepam and some of the most frequently asked about topics where any information is available.

Why is Bromazepam Not Available in the U.S.?

While bromazepam is legally prescribed in other countries, such as France, Spain, and Australia, it has not been approved by the FDA for use in the US. According to a 2022 national study on long-term benzodiazepine prescribing in Australia, benzodiazepine prescriptions decreased between 2011 and 2018, yet benzodiazepine deaths continued to increase over the same period of time.7,8

There are reportedly many characteristics of the drug which make other alternatives safer and more desirable treatment options.10,11

Treatment for Bromazepam Abuse and Addiction?

Bromazepam abuse and addiction may become problematic quite quickly after starting to use this potent benzodiazepine drug. In France, where the drug is prescribed as an anti-anxiety agent, as well as for other purposes as outlined above, In France, bromazepam was reported as the most common drug used for self-administered benzodiazepine overdose.4

Avoiding Potentially Life-Threatening Benzo Scenarios

Medically monitored withdrawal is the safest recommendation, as there may be some complications requiring immediate intervention, such as airway collapse, severe respiratory failure, loss of consciousness, psychoses, and other extreme scenarios that would be best handled in a secure hospital setting.

Bromazepam prescription is controlled by International law, which cautions against prescribing bromazepam to pregnant women, the elderly, a person who is seriously ill, those with a history of alcohol abuse or any past drug dependence, and also cautions against prescribing it to children.8

Bromazepam Withdrawal at Alternative to Meds Center

Alternative to Meds Center commonly has international clients who come to us from all over the world. Drugs like bromazepam are marketed under different names in different areas of the world, but carry the same risks during withdrawal treatment. We welcome all clients and can assist with information about how to travel to the US for our services.

Clients coming to the center for inpatient treatment receive world-class accommodations in a pristine and friendly environment, with easy access to the majestic Red Rock Mountains, hiking trails, and other outdoor activities and sightseeing opportunities in the beautiful surrounds.

Please visit our services overview pages to acquaint yourself with the wealth of holistic services provided while staying at the center. Included are Equine therapy, deep cleansing protocols, medically supervised and managed medication tapering, counseling services, orthomolecular medicine for corrected diet and supplementation, Qi Gong, acupuncture, yoga, educational classes, IV and NAD therapy, therapeutic spa services, and much much more to ensure your stay is not only effective but comfortable and enjoyable. Call us today for additional information about the advantages of regaining natural mental health through a properly done bromazepam withdrawal program done comfortably at Alternative to Meds Center.


1.  Pétursson H. The benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. Addiction. 1994 Nov;89(11):1455-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1994.tb03743.x. PMID: 7841856. [cited 2022 Sept 15]

2.  Weinbroum AA, Flaishon R, Sorkine P, Szold O, Rudick V. A risk-benefit assessment of flumazenil in the management of benzodiazepine overdose. Drug Saf. 1997 Sep;17(3):181-96. doi: 10.2165/00002018-199717030-00004. PMID: 9306053. [cited 2022 Sept 15]

3.  Sánchez Díaz M, Martín-Calvo ML, Mateos-Campos R. Trends in the Use of Anxiolytics in Castile and Leon, Spain, between 2015-2020: Evaluating the Impact of COVID-19. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 1;18(11):5944. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18115944. PMID: 34205985; PMCID: PMC8198623. [cited 2022 Sept 15]

4. Staikowsky F, Theil F, Candella S “Trends in the Pharmaceutical Profile of Intentional Drug Overdoses Seen in the Emergency Room” PubMed, 2005 Jul 02 [cited 2022 Sept 15]

5. Michelini S, Cassano GB, Frare F, Perugi G. Long-term use of benzodiazepines: tolerance, dependence and clinical problems in anxiety and mood disorders. Pharmacopsychiatry. 1996 Jul;29(4):127-34. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-979558. PMID: 8858711.[cited 2022 Sept 15]

6.  Pharmachoice Bromazepam information [published online 14/09/2022] [cited 2022 Sept 15]

7.  Woods A, Begum M, Gonzalez-Chica D, Bernardo C, Hoon E, Stocks N. Long-term benzodiazepines and z-drug prescribing in Australian general practice between 2011 and 2018: A national study. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2022 Feb;10(1):e00896. doi: 10.1002/prp2.896. PMID: 34918876; PMCID: PMC8929365. [cited 2022 Sept 15]

8.  NIH Summary Bromazepam [published online N.D.] [cited 2022 Sept 15]

9.  Sharbaf Shoar N, Bistas KG, Saadabadi A. Flumazenil. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470180/ [cited 2022 Sept 15]

10.  Saeed SA, Cunningham K, Bloch RM. Depression and Anxiety Disorders: Benefits of Exercise, Yoga, and Meditation. Am Fam Physician. 2019 May 15;99(10):620-627. PMID: 31083878. [cited 2022 Sept 15]

11.  Marchand WR. Mindfulness meditation practices as adjunctive treatments for psychiatric disorders. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2013 Mar;36(1):141-52. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2013.01.002. PMID: 23538083. [cited 2022 Sept 15]

12.  Fukazawa H, Iwase H, Ichishita H, Takizawa T, Shimizu H. Effects of chronic administration of bromazepam on its blood level profile and on the hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes in the rat. Drug Metab Dispos. 1975 Jul-Aug;3(4):235-44. PMID: 240652. [cited 2022 Sept 15]

13.  Wikner BN, Stiller CO, Bergman U, Asker C, Källén B. Use of benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine receptor agonists during pregnancy: neonatal outcome and congenital malformations. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2007 Nov;16(11):1203-10. doi: 10.1002/pds.1457. PMID: 17894421. [cited 2022 Sept 15]


Originally Published Sep 13, 2018 by Diane Ridaeus


This content has been reviewed and approved by a licensed physician.

Dr. Michael Loes, M.D.

 

Dr. Michael Loes is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pain Management and Addiction Medicine. He holds a dual license in Homeopathic and Integrative Medicine. He obtained his medical doctorate at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 1978. Dr. Loes performed an externship at the National Institute of Health for Psychopharmacology. Additionally, he is a well-published author including Arthritis: The Doctor’s Cure, The Aspirin Alternative, The Healing Response, and Spirit Driven Health: The Psalmist’s Guide for Recovery. He has been awarded the Minnesota Medical Foundation’s “Excellence in Research” Award.

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Bromazepam Withdrawal Symptoms | Lexotan Side Effects, Treatment Help
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