Navigating the Difficult Benzo Withdrawal Symptoms Timeline Safely

Common benzo withdrawal symptoms can be anxiety, panic, insomnia, and restlessness. Our programs address both the physical and psychological toll of benzodiazepine withdrawal, offering addiction expertise within a strong recovery community. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of benzo withdrawal seek medical attention immediately.

Psychological interventions may provide a small but significant additional benefit over gradual dose reduction alone at post-cessation and at follow-up. Such people sometimes simply need to persist as they may not feel better until they have been fully withdrawn from them for a period of time. The rate of dosage reduction is best carried out so as to minimize the symptoms’ intensity and severity. Symptoms may lack a psychological cause and can fluctuate in intensity with periods of good and bad days until eventual recovery. Increased glutamate excitatory activity during withdrawal may lead to sensitization or kindling of the CNS, possibly leading to worsening cognition and symptomatology and making each subsequent withdrawal period worse. The neuroadaptive processes involved in tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal mechanisms implicate both the GABAergic and the glutamatergic systems.

Levels of Care

The reason it took 24 weeks for improvements to be seen after cessation of benzodiazepine use was due to the time it takes the brain to adapt to the benzodiazepine-free environment. Improvements were seen between 24 and 52 weeks after withdrawal in many factors, including improved sleep and several cognitive and performance abilities. At 52 weeks after successful withdrawal, a 22% improvement in cognitive status was found, as well as improved social functioning. Discontinuing benzodiazepines or antidepressants abruptly due to concerns of teratogenic effects of the medications has a high risk of causing serious complications, so is not recommended. When symptoms increase periodically during protracted withdrawal, physiological changes may be present, including dilated pupils as well as an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. A slow withdrawal rate significantly reduces the risk of a protracted or severe withdrawal state.

How Long Does Benzo Detox Take?

One study found that after one year of abstinence from long-term use of benzodiazepines, cognitive, neurological and intellectual impairments had returned to normal. Over-rapid withdrawal, lack of explanation, and failure to reassure individuals that they are experiencing temporary withdrawal symptoms led some people to experience increased panic and fears they are going mad, with some people developing a condition similar to post-traumatic stress disorder as a result. Pre-existing disorder or other causes typically do not improve, whereas symptoms of protracted withdrawal gradually improve over the ensuing months. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can also lead to disturbances in mental function that persist for several months or years after onset of symptoms (referred to as post-acute-withdrawal syndrome in this form). Attempting to detox at home without supervision may lead to dangerous complications, so consider a medically supervised taper or detox program. Knowing when to involve medical professionals can mean the difference between a safe withdrawal and a life-threatening event.

Medical detox

The benzodiazepine withdrawal treatment guidelines at The Recovery Village allow some patients to be treated with medications. It is best to do a benzodiazepinedetox under medical supervisionand in the care of addiction professionals with established safety protocols. Stopping the drug so abruptly will cause a person to have very intense withdrawal symptoms that can occur very quickly.

Benzo Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline and Treatment

Psychological symptoms are irritability, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and memory loss. Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia, and alcohol withdrawal. At Tree House Recovery in Wilmington, NC, our goal is to guide people through various stages of healing. When stopped and without medical oversight, the result can be fatal.

You may have to pause, slow down, or speed up depending on how your body reacts to withdrawal. Medical experts continue to debate the best way to taper these medications, so there’s no single agreed-upon approach. They could rate each problem as nonexistent, mild, moderate, severe, quite severe, or enormous. All those extra chemicals flood your brain, and the excess activity causes symptoms like anxiety and sweating. They can range in severity, though for some people, they remain mild and manageable. If you’re predisposed to seizures, your risk of having a seizure may also increase during the withdrawal period.

• Improved reaction times were noted at 52 weeks in elderly patients free from benzodiazepines.
• The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), in collaboration with ten other American medical associations, issued a joint statement regarding benzodiazipine tapering in June 2025.
• Long-term treatment after benzodiazepine withdrawal will depend on your reasons for taking them in the first place and your reasons for quitting.
• If you continue to struggle with anxiety or sleep problems after medical detox, you may need ongoing rehab or residential treatment.

Physical and mental Benzo withdrawal symptoms differ but usually peak within 1–2 weeks. Medical guidance and structured care are necessary when detoxing from benzodiazepines. If a person discontinues benzodiazepines like Xanax or Klonopin, this can trigger intense symptoms. When use has how long does marijuana stay in your system blood, urine, and hair suddenly stopped, the nervous system’s hyperactivity kicks in, which can lead to benzo withdrawal syndrome

Tapering changes

Some people taper quickly, finishing up within two to three weeks. Your doctor will help make an individualized tapering schedule based on your current dose and particular circumstances. Depending on which benzodiazepine you are currently taking, your doctor may want to switch you to a different one before your taper begins. Tapering means taking progressively smaller doses over the course of a few weeks or months.

Among people taking benzodiazepines for longer than six months, about 40% experience moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms when they quit suddenly. You may feel overwhelmed by the benzo withdrawal symptoms timeline as you prepare to stop or taper off benzodiazepines. Most benzodiazepines withdrawal symptoms have resulted in dire, life-threatening complications. There is no known cure for protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome except time, however, the medication flumazenil was found to be more effective than placebo in reducing feelings of hostility and aggression in patients who had been free of benzodiazepines for 4–266 weeks.

Dependence appears to occur in a similar way to how it does with other addictive drugs. According to the classification, these drugs have a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence. Supportive counseling and other targeted therapies or medications may help a person manage the symptoms and improve their quality of life. These symptoms may be troubling or affect a person’s quality of life. Although many symptoms subside after the acute withdrawal phase, lingering side effects are possible. These drugs are habit-forming and can easily result in physical dependence.

• Benzo withdrawal is a serious medical challenge.
• They should never quit benzos suddenly without first consulting a professional and developing a plan with them.
• Although many symptoms subside after the acute withdrawal phase, lingering side effects are possible.
• It’s incredibly important to follow your doctor’s guidance when you stop taking benzodiazepines.

Treatments

Estimates suggest that 10 to 25% of people who take benzodiazepines for extended periods experience what’s known as protracted withdrawal. The authors, however, cited a study in younger patients who at a 3.5-year follow-up showed no memory impairments and speculated that certain memory functions take longer to recover from chronic benzodiazepine use and further improvements in elderly people’s cognitive function may occur beyond 52 weeks after withdrawal. The neonatal benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome has been reported to persist from hours to months after birth.

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The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classify benzodiazepines as a Schedule IV controlled substance. Protracted withdrawals may cause their own set of symptoms, often called post-acute withdrawal symptoms, or PAWS. Acute withdrawal begins after the initial withdrawal symptoms, generally within a few days.

Long-term treatment after benzodiazepine withdrawal will depend on your reasons for taking them in the first place and your reasons for quitting. Short-acting benzodiazepines complicate withdrawal with too many ups and downs. The onset of benzodiazepine withdrawal depends on the specific medication you are taking. If you stop or reduce your dose suddenly, you will experience withdrawal symptoms. However, benzodiazepines can cause physical dependence and withdrawal even when they are taken as directed. The elimination half-life of diazepam and chlordiazepoxide, as well as other long half-life benzodiazepines, is twice as long in the elderly compared to younger individuals.

Benzodiazepine withdrawal is when the body begins to rid itself of the drug, which can lead to a state of shock. The way symptoms present  and unfold depends on the type of benzo used, dosage amount, and the duration of time used. With compassionate, tailored care, we help you manage  symptoms and rebuild your life. Benzo withdrawal is a serious medical challenge.

Higher daily doses (for example, 4 mg/day of Xanax or more) and use beyond three months increase dependency and withdrawal severity . Another way that people attempt to detox is by quitting “cold turkey,” which is when benzo use is cut off altogether. Everyone has a different reaction during benzodiazepine detoxification. Their levels of physical dependency and psychological addiction also come into play when determining the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Often nicknamed “benzos,” these drugs can become highly addictive if they aren’t used properly. There are many different formulations of benzodiazepines, along with many different brand names.

The acute benzodiazepines withdrawal phase lasts between a week and a month, with the most intense symptoms and side effects. Prolonged use of taking benzodiazepine medications leads to risky withdrawal symptoms. According to the DEA, benzodiazepines are classified as schedule III drugs, forming a class of drugs such as Xanax and Valium with potential misuse and abuse. Let’s look at several key areas connected to benzodiazepines, including the signs and symptoms of withdrawing from the drug.

How Long Do Benzos’ Withdrawal Symptoms Take?

These drugs mimic the effects of a neurotransmitter called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). Among respondents whose symptoms lasted months or years, over half said caffeine or alcohol worsened their PAWS symptoms. Benzodiazepine-related PAWS can last around 6 to 12 months, although some symptoms can last for years.