Is Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Life-Threatening? A Complete Guide

“Quitting certain drugs suddenly can be dangerous.” We all have probably heard that sometimes or another. But when it comes to a drug like benzodiazepine, this saying gets a little more real and things get a little more serious. Unlike many other substances, stopping on Benzodiazepine suddenly can actually be risky. The withdrawal symptoms can set in within 24 hours of stopping. Now you might be wondering “Is Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Life Threatening?” “Can you die from benzodiazepine withdrawal?” The answer to that might not be as simple but that’s what we are here for. In this article we will discuss everything you need to know about Benzodiazepine Withdrawals. But before that let s first see what a Benzodiazepine is.

What Are Benzodiazepines? How Exactly Do They Work? 

Benzodiazepines are a prescription medication that belongs to a drug class called psychoactive, central nervous system (CNS) depressant drugs. It is a sedative-hypnotic drug. It is mainly used to treat seizures, anxiety, Alcohol withrawl and insomnia. But how does Benzo help anxiety? How does it even work? Well Benzodiazepine enhances the effect of a neurotransmitter called GABA which slows down your brain’s activity. This creates a calming effect and reduces Anxiety. Benzos are almost always prescribed as a short-term treatment because using it for a long period of time comes with some dependence and addiction risks. If you use it for a long time the brain becomes dependent on it to function normally. That is when withdrawal becomes a concern. 

Is Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Life-Threatening?

Is benzodiazepine withdrawal fatal? The straightforward answer is YES, benzodiazepine withdrawal can be life-threatening. Well, in some cases at least. If you have been taking benzos for a long time and in a higher dosage, and you suddenly decide to stop then it can be dangerous.  When you stop taking it abruptly your brain can become overactive because it has adapted to the calming effects of the drug. When the withdrawal is severe then the symptoms will be serious. In the very extreme cases these symptoms lead to conditions that can be fatal if not treated properly in time.

Symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal

It is very important for you to catch the symptoms on time so that you can get medical attention on time. The signs of benzodiazepine withdrawal can be very different for you than for the next person. You may experience some mild to moderate symptoms and then there are some severe and serious symptoms. 

Mild symptoms:

• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Muscle tension

Severe and Serious symptoms:

• Seizures
• Confusion
• Severe panic attack
• Extreme agitation
• Hallucination 
• Rapid heart rate
• High blood pressure

If you experience any of the serious benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms then contact your doctor for asses the situation and provide help accordingly. In such cases the doctor might use medical detoxification treatment to help better your condition. 

Who can experience life-threatening withdrawal?

Not everyone who takes benzos will experience these severe life threatening withdrawal conditions. If you are someone who has only taken benzos only for a couple of weeks and have followed your prescription properly then you have nothing to worry about. Benzos are safe as long as they are consumed according to the prescribed dosage. But if you are someone who has been using benzodiazepines for a long time and taken higher dosages than the doctor told you to and now you want to quit it all of a sudden, you should be prepared for some nasty withdrawal symptoms. This could also happen if you previously had some underlying health conditions.  

How long can benzodiazepine withdrawal last?

Benzodiazepine withdrawal timeline can vary depending on the kind of benzo you take. If you take short-acting benzos like Xanax and Ativan you may start experiencing withdrawal effects in about 24 hours. But if you were taking long-acting benzos like Valium or Klonopin then the effects may take a few days to start. In some cases symptoms can last weeks or even months. Other than withdrawal, Benzodiazepines can last in your system for quite some time which can also affect your health. 

How To Safely Quit Benzodiazepines?

The safest way to quit Benzodiazepine is by reducing the dosage gradually over the time. This way your brain will have time to adjust to the new dosage and won’t face a “cold turkey” situation. But it is not something for you to do on your own. Any adjustments in the dosage should only be made by a doctor. The doctor will make a dosage reduction plan based on your current dosage, duration of use, your current condition and the type of benzo you are taking. Withdrawals can be very hard to deal with but you need to remember that treatment for benzodiazepine withdrawal is available. Alternatives for benzos are also available, so that you can prevent an addiction all together. But if you are addicted to benzo then stopping won’t be easy but with a little assistance from Benzodiazepine addiction treatment and strong willpower, it can be done. 

Conclusion

Can stopping benzos suddenly be Life Threatening? The honest answer is YES, it can be. If you stop it too suddenly then it can be pretty dangerous and can affect your mind and body in more ways than one. Especially if you have been on benzos for quite some time now. That being said, withdrawal doesn’t have to be dangerous. If you trust the process and go with the slow and gradual reduction method withdrawal won’t be much of an issue for you.