The suppression of CaMKIIa by diazepam has a long-lasting effect leading to a limited neuronal response to changes in intracellular calcium and decreased response by GABA-A receptors 42. BZDs gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s through household names such as The Rolling Stones and numerous Hollywood movies sensationalizing Valium (diazepam). BZDs were encouraged for anyone wanting to calm their nerves and ease their sleep, causing them to rapidly attain favor in society 6. Additionally, given the continual rise of anxiety and sleep-disordered problems over the decades, BZDs remain a regular fixture in the United States today 7.
Timeline of Withdrawal
- Individuals undergoing benzodiazepine withdrawal may also experience mood swings, irritability, and agitation.
- Several key factors influence the timeline and severity of withdrawal symptoms, making each individual’s journey unique.
- The withdrawal symptoms, which vary in severity, typically begin within 24 hours and may last from a few days to a few months.
- Understanding the withdrawal process is crucial, particularly as more individuals seek to safely navigate this phase or support others undergoing it.
Acute withdrawal lasts from a few days to several weeks and can cause mood changes, insomnia, appetite loss, headache, and even suicidal ideation. This is often followed by post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), which brings prolonged disturbances in sleep, cognition, attention, and motivation. During this time, patients may also report tinnitus, confusion, irritability, or derealization—symptoms that require clinical support and ongoing therapy to manage effectively.
- If you are taking more than prescribed, however, it may be time to get some additional help.
- GABA acts as a sort of speed bump that helps all the other chemical messengers travel through your brain at a reasonable pace.
- There’s another link between the way benzos — and the process of removing them from your system — affect your brain and your gut.
- When someone stops taking these drugs suddenly, they may experience a range of symptoms.
Role of medical detox
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classify benzodiazepines as a Schedule IV controlled substance. According to the classification, these drugs have a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence. Withdrawal alcoholism treatment symptoms may be mild in people who take the drugs for short periods. However, there is still a possibility of severe reactions and withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms from short-acting drugs, such as Xanax, may come on faster than withdrawal symptoms from long-acting drugs, such as Valium.
Benzodiazepine detox and the importance of a support system
These ions change the neuron’s electrical charge, so it benzodiazepines withdrawal symptoms has to work much harder to activate and send signals. A theory that’s becoming more prominent in the scientific community explores the connection between the stomach, the GI tract and the brain. It can be demonstrated through the concept of having a “gut feeling.” This is the sensation you sometimes get in your stomach about what’s right or wrong. As it turns out, this may be more than an idiomatic expression — it may be rooted in real science. You’ll then benefit from an individual treatment plan that is tailored to your unique needs and goals. For this method to work, people often need ongoing educational, psychiatric, psychological, and counseling help.