Can You Take Benzodiazepines Long Term? Risks & Safety

If you have been prescribed to take benzodiazepines for anxiety or for sleeping issues then you know how fast it works and provides relief. This fast relief effect is what makes it so tempting to keep using them for a long time. And if you have searched for “Can you take Benzodiazepines long term?” then you are probably tempted too. Well benzos are generally not prescribed for longer usage. It is made for short-term usage only. Using benzos for a long period of time can cause you more harm than good. You might be wondering “What are the long-term effects of Benzodiazepines?” In this article we will try to shed some light on exactly that. But before any of that let’s first get to know what a benzodiazepine is.

Everything You Need To Know About Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are a class of medication that slow down brain activity. A class of psychoactive, central nervous system (CNS) depressant drugs.  It is a sedative-hypnotic drug used to treat seizures, insomnia and anxiety. But how exactly does Benzo help anxiety? Well, it slows down your brain’s neurotransmitters while enhancing GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid). This creates a calming effect and reduces anxiety in the process. Benzodiazepines like Diazepam are used for Anxiety, Alprazolam for insomnia, Lorazepam for panic attacks and Clonazepam for Alcohol withdrawal. These are some solid treatments when it comes to short-term. But using them for the long term is a completely different thing. So can you use Benzodiazepines long-term?

Can You Take Benzodiazepines Long Term?

You will almost never see a benzo prescribed for more than a couple of weeks. That is because it is a medicine only used as a short-term treatment for anxiety and taking it for longer than prescribed can be risky in more ways than one. Short-term use (2 to 4 weeks) is generally considered safe. Using them for months or years increases the risk of complications. That being said, people with severe anxiety or a severe neurological condition can still be prescribed to take it for longer. But that is very rare to happen. It is only done when a medical professional is keeping a strict eye on you. 

Benzodiazepines long-term effects

1. Tolerance: Keep taking benzodiazepines for a long period of time and your body will get used to it. This is called tolerance. When this happens you will need a higher dosage of benzos to feel the same effect you used to feel before and this happens because the same dosage is now less effective for your body.
2. Dependence & Addiction: Once tolerance is built and you start to take higher dosage dependance comes next.  This can result in craving the medication again and again, difficulty stopping and withdrawal effects when trying to quit. This is exactly why avoiding Benzo addiction becomes so important.
3. Withdrawal symptoms: Stopping benzos suddenly can really be dengerous. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be life-threatening in some cases. 
4. Mental health issues: Long-term effects of benzodiazepines on the brain can be very serious. It can cause something called Benzodiazepine Induced Neurological Dysfunction (BIND). This condition can cause even more anxiety, memory problems and sometimes even depression. 

Long-term effects of benzodiazepines on the body can be quite serious. It can make your daily life much more difficult than it was with anxiety.

When is long-term use considered?

Your doctor only considers prescribing you Benzo for the long run if other treatments like antidepressants and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) haven’t worked for you. When the benefits far outweigh the risks. And on top of all that the patient needs to be under strict medical supervision.  Even then the doctors only prescribe the lowest effective dosage possible. When it’s absolutely necessary doctors prescribe you only those benos that are safer for long-term usage in comparison to others. 

Best benzodiazepine for long term use

No benzodiazepine is considered completely safe for you to use for a long time. Though some benzos are safer than the others. Long-acting benzodiazepines like diazepam and clonazepam are two of the safer ones. They both treat anxiety, panic and stress disorder. They also treat seizures. Diazepam can sometimes be used as a treatment for alcohol withdrawal. These are the only two benzos that are somewhat safe for long-term using. Other than that there are many other alternatives that can be used in a much safer and risk-free manner. 

Safer Alternatives For Long-Term Use

When people need a long-term treatment for their anxiety they often ask “What benzo can you take long-term?” But why even resort to benzos when you can treat your anxiety in many other safer ways. There are a lot of alternatives to benzodiazepines. Changing your lifestyle for once is a great way to get rid of anxiety. Eating healthily and sleeping at least 8 hours a day, adding some exercise to the routine and keeping yourself busy with productive work are all ways you can change your lifestyle and deal with anxiety naturally. Other than that walking barefoot on grass while breathing fresh air can also help you with anxiety. If your anxiety is severe then trying CBT is considered the best option. Doctors can prescribe you antidepressants like SSRIs because they are much less addictive in comparison to benzodiazepines. 

Final Thoughts 

So can you take Benzodiazepine long term? Well, you can but you definitely should not. At least not until your doctor tells you to. Benzos can be proven very dangerous if taken for a long time. If you have been taking benzos for a long time already then do not stop using them suddenly. Doctors will always suggest you a slow and gradual reduction in the dosage. This will buy your body enough time to cope with the new dosage. Quitting on the drug can be difficult but it certainly is doable with a strong willpower and a bit of help from benzodiazepine addiction treatment.