Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms: How Long Do They Last?

It was a multiple-choice survey and although write-in information was accepted, our results are based entirely on responses from multiple-choice questions. The benzodiazepine withdrawal survey was anonymous and there was no access to the respondents’ medical records to confirm their benzodiazepine use or status. The symptoms included in the multiple-choice survey were a subset of symptoms provided by Ashton 12 and Wright 1, and does not necessarily reflect the complete range of symptoms experienced by respondents. Since this was a survey, we were unable to determine whether respondents met criteria for a formal psychiatric disorder that contains the symptoms.

Difficult tapers

Supportive counseling and other targeted therapies or medications may help a person manage the symptoms and improve their quality of life. Although many symptoms subside after the acute withdrawal phase, lingering side effects are possible. There are three possible phases for benzo withdrawals, each with an estimated timeline. A person should always withdraw from benzos under the guidance of a healthcare professional. They should never quit benzos suddenly without first consulting a professional and developing a plan with them. People looking to get off benzos should do so under the guidance of a healthcare professional, who may recommend coping strategies and other tools to make the withdrawal process more comfortable.

• Stimulants include Ritalin and Adderall, often prescribed to manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• The only other benzodiazepines with similar half-lives are chlordiazepoxide (Librium), flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) and flurazepam (Dalmane), all of which are converted to a diazepam metabolite in the body.
• There are pharmacokinetic differences when administering tizanidine between the fed or fasted state see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3).
• The overall effect of these actions is thought to reduce facilitation of spinal motor neurons.

Alcohol and your health: Risks, benefits, and controversies

A variety of withdrawal schedules from several benzodiazepines are illustrated on the following pages. Schedules such as these have worked on real people, but you may need to adapt them for your own needs. So, for those starting out, many previous users will testify that almost anyone who really wants to can withdraw from benzodiazepines. But don’t be surprised if your symptoms (or lack of them) are different from those of anyone else embarking on the same venture. Among respondents whose symptoms lasted months or years, over half said caffeine or alcohol worsened their PAWS symptoms. They can range in severity, though for some people, they remain mild and manageable.

Data Availability

Though therapy generally can’t address withdrawal symptoms specifically, it can help improve some symptoms, like anxiety and insomnia. In addition to the immediate health risk, benzodiazepine withdrawal can seriously affect your quality of life. Read on to learn more about benzodiazepine withdrawal, including the signs, how long it lasts, and how to get support with tapering off safely. If you take benzodiazepines infrequently, such as once a week or once every few weeks to treat panic attacks, you can take them for a longer period of what is Oxford House time.

• They could rate each problem as nonexistent, mild, moderate, severe, quite severe, or enormous.
• Your discontinuation method can significantly affect withdrawal duration and severity.
• PLOS authors have the option to publish the peer review history of their article (what does this mean?).
• In some cases, life-threatening seizures can occur, which is why it’s important to work with your care provider.
• You should plan to stay in touch with your doctor regularly during the tapering process, either by phone or during office visits.

• Among the sites that offered the survey were several largebenzodiazepine-related websites and 10 Facebook groups related to benzodiazepineuse.
• In the multiple dose studies of tizanidine, the prevalence of patients with sedation peaked following the first week of titration and then remained stable for the duration of the maintenance phase of the study see Adverse Reactions (6.1) .
• The withdrawal symptoms, which vary in severity, typically begin within 24 hours and may last from a few days to a few months.

Protracted withdrawal syndrome refers to symptoms persisting for months or even years. A significant minority of people withdrawing from benzodiazepines, protracted withdrawal syndrome which can sometimes be severe. Tinnitus occurring during dose reduction or discontinuation of benzodiazepines is alleviated by recommencement of benzodiazepines. Dizziness is often reported as being the withdrawal symptom that lasts the longest.

The benzodiazepine withdrawal process is impacted by factors such as the dosage, the duration of use, and whether the drug was stopped suddenly or tapered slowly. For individuals who have used benzodiazepines at high doses or over an extended period, withdrawal symptoms are usually more severe and prolonged. Unlike other reports about benzodiazepine use and discontinuation, our survey took into account both symptoms and adverse life events, such as financial loss, termination of employment, and other devasting events. The subset of patients who used benzodiazepines and developed BIND experience a bewildering, sometimes severe, set of prolonged effects that have gone largely unrecognized by the medical profession 22. The mechanisms underlying these prolonged effects have not been elucidated but are likely different from the mechanisms of acute withdrawal, which are well understood 1. Further studies from 2000 and 2011 determined that “Up to 44% of long-term benzodiazepine users have persistent moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to discontinue the drug” (De las Cuevas et al., 2000; Lader, 2011).

• According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), most individuals experience the onset of withdrawal symptoms within 6 hours of their last drink.
• From 1996 to 2013, the number of people filling benzodiazepine prescriptions increased by 67%.
• Protracted withdrawal is more common in individuals who used high doses or took benzodiazepines for more extended periods.