The following list of symptoms was compiled from existing symptom lists and also with contributions from the individuals who have suffered and endured benzodiazepine withdrawal syndromes themselves:
Abdomen Cramping & Distention
Achiness
Aching jaw
Aching joints
Aching muscles
Acute hyperexcited state
Aggressive behaviour
Agitation
Agitated sight
Agoraphobia
Air Hunger
Akathisia
Allergic reactions
Allergic reactions to/Intolerance of foods previously tolerated
Allergy & nasal symptoms exacerbated
Anger
Anhedonia
Anorgasmia
Anxiety
Apathy
Appetite – either loss of, or voracious appetite with constant desire to eat
Arms and legs feel detached from body
Ataxia
Band around head
Bladder Incontinence
Bleeding between menstrual cycles
Bleeding from the nose
Blepharospasm
Blood Pressure Issues (High or Low)
Blurred Vision
Body Temperature Fluctuations
Brain Fog
Body odor
Bradycardia
Brain moving within the skull sensation
Breasts (heavy, over-sensitive, swollen, enlarged, painful)
Breathing difficulties
Breathlessness
Bruxism
Buildings appear to be leaning
Burning along the spine
Burning Sensations on Skin
Buzzing, burning, tingling limbs
Changes in perception (faces distorting and inanimate objects moving)
Changes in skin color, tone, texture
Chemical Sensitivities
Chest tightness
Chills
Choking
Claustrophobia
Clumsiness
Cognitive impairment
Confusion
Constipation
Cracked and sore lips
Cramping in stomach
Cramping of the muscles
Craving for sweets and sugary foods
Crying Spells
Cuts and abrasions taking weeks to heal
Dark circles under eyes
Decaying teeth and gums
Dehydration
Delirium
Demented and murderous thoughts
Dental Pain
Depersonalization
Depression
Diarrhea
Difficulty swallowing
Disorientation
Dizziness
Double Vision
Dry Retching
Dry throat, sore tongue, and thrush
Dyspepsia
Dysphagia (difficulty eating or swallowing)
Dysphoria (inability to feel pleasure or happiness)
Dyspnea (breathing difficulty)
Dystonia
Earache and sinus problems
Edema
Electronic Zaps
Emotional Blunting
Epileptic Fits
Esophageal Spasms
Esophagitis
Excitability
Exhaustion
Extreme cold
Extreme thirst
Eyes – sore, tired, seeing floaters, spots, itchy, red
Eye Dryness
Facial Numbness
Fear (terror)
Feeling of extreme heat or cold
Feeling of impending doom
Feelings of shaking inside and out
Feeling of shame
Feelings of unreality
Feelings of worms under scalp
Female ejaculation or incontinence during orgasm
Fingernail problems – median nail dystrophy (line/ridge down the centre), ridges
Flashbacks
Fluctuations in blood pressure
Flu-like symptoms (“Benzo flu”)
Flushing
Formication
Fuzzy feeling in head
Gait Abnormality
Gastritis
Glassy eyes
Goosebumps – very visible to the eye
Grinding teeth
Hair Changes (loss, thinning, dullness)
Hallucinations
Headaches
Heartburn
Heavy arms and legs
Hemorrhoids
Holding onto the walls in the shower
Hypersensitive Senses
Heart Palpitations
Hormonal Imbalances
Hot Flashes
Hurts to wear clothes, a car seatbelt
Hypersensitive (unable to watch the news, see films, read the newspaper)
Hyperactivity
Hyperacusis (profound hearing sensitivity, hurts to talk on the phone, music, etc.)
Hypersomia (sensitive sense of smell)
Hyperreflexia (‘jumpiness’) Hypersensitivity to being touched
Hypersensitivity to light, sound, and other stimuli
Hypersensitivity to stress
Hypertension (elevated blood pressure)
Hyperventilation (over breathing)
Hypnologic (hallucinations, sleepwalking)
Hysterical and inappropriate laughter
IBS – irritable bowel syndrome
Impacted bowels
Impairment of motor coordination Impotence
Inability to comprehend the simplest things
Inability to concentrate
Inability to cope with a lot of information Inability to draw a satisfying breath
Inability to make a decision
Inability to read or write
Incontinence, frequent or urgent need to urinate, unable to hold or pass urine Increased saliva
Indigestion
Insomnia
Intense fuzzy feeling in the head
Intense jaw pain
Intrusive Thoughts
Iris in eyes changes color
Irrational rage
Irrationality (in general) Irritability
Jaundice
Jaw, tooth, neck and shoulder aches and pains
Jaw tension, clenching, teeth grinding
“Jelly Legs” – weakness in the legs
Jerks in arms, legs fingers
Joint aches and pains Joylessness Jumpiness
Lack of concentration Lack of coordination
Left/Right-sided symptoms
Legs arms and head very heavy Leukonychia (whitening of nails)
Libidinal changes – variances in sex drive
Loss of balance
Loss of concentration
Loss of confidence
Loss of control of movement
Loss of interest in people and/or things Loss of memory (short and/or long-term)
Loss of self respect
Loss of taste or metallic taste (or other strange tastes)
Loss or changes in appetite
Lung pain
Memory Probelms
Menstrual Problems
Metallic Taste
Mood swings
Muscle aches
Muscle spasms
Muscle weakness
Nausea
Nervousness
Nightmares
Night sweats
Numbness/Tingling
Obsessions and obsessive behavior
Orgasm changes
Outbursts of aggression and rage
Pain
Painful scalp
Panic Attacks
Paraesthesia
Paranoia
Paraesthesia
Perception Distortion
Passing gas continually
Phobias
Post Traumatic Stress symptoms
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
Premature menopause
Psychotic symptoms
Racing Thoughts
Rapid blinking of the eyes
Rapid weight loss
Rashes on skin
Reading/Comprehension Problems
Repetative Thoughts
Restless Legs
Scalp Pain
Shivering
Sinusitis
Speech difficulties
Swallowing difficulties
Tachycardia
Teeth Pain
Thyroid disturbances
Ticking
Tinnitus
Toxic naps
Tremor
Twitching
Urinary Problems
Vertigo
Visual disturbances – waves, sparks, flashes of light, seeing spots, floaters, blurry
Vomiting
Weakness
Weight Gain or Loss
Zaps
Is there anyway I can print this list to use for referral.
I copied the complete list and pasted into WORD in Portrait and it took 8 pages, 4 printed back-to-back…
Been on Benzos(betapam) for about a month. Been tapering off them by cutting them in half. How long should the withdrawal last?
It can last to 6 months to 2 years or more
This list is too comprehensive. I have taken Xanax for years and all these symptoms are laughable!
As long as u on or go on longer mine over 10 year now still suffering
Do it slow. It could take 2-3 months in order to be safe
Go to Ashton manual to get an idea
I did cold turkey 3 months ago and o feel like I’m dying from the inside! Insomnia, anxiety, torment, depression, chest pain and pressure, stomach ache, headache, irritation. I went to the hospital 3 times already and they put back to klonopin!!!
I’ve been on a low dose alprazolam of 0.5mg as needed for stress and anxiety for over 6yrs.. the last 3 to 4 yrs I rarely took any. However, last 2 or almost 3 months I started taking the prescribed dose to ease extreme stress several times a week.. now my anxiety is back and with avengence! Last 2 weeks have been hell, 0.5mg doesn’t last me the day anymore.. it’s either 0.75mg or 1mg, which I do NOT want to take nor go over.. I’ve been to the er 3xs in a month for panic attacks and they gave me ativan to calm down and it helped until the very next day. I’ve been struggling because I don’t want to be on this medication anymore.. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME TAPER OFF!! Even if this is considered a “low dose”, I don’t want it to increase… I just want off 😞
.Xanax has a short half life so transitioning over to Valium will aid in a slow taper rate.
I was on .5 mg Klonopin 3X/day and tapering that is not really feasible unless you can get a compounded Rx.
I transitioned over to Valium and tapered at a rate of 10% of my total dosage once I was only on Valium.
So a 10% taper rate from a starting dose of 30 mg Valium (each .5 mg of Klonopin equals 10 mg Valium) is 3 mg over my 3 doses so each dose I reduced by by 1 mg of Valium every 2 weeks.
So it took me 20 weeks to come off the Valium.
I had been taking the Klonopin for 13 years but transitioning over to Valium I had a smooth taper with minimal and manageable withdrawal symptoms.
So as it has already been said just Google “Ashton Manual” and there are taper schedules for a bunch of different benzos.
The key for me was to go slow and I modified my taper schedule so I took off the same amount of Valium from each dose to keep my blood levels as constant as possible.
Dropping down and eliminating like the morning dose did not work for me as I had dips in blood concentration and experienced lots of anxiety. So I stopped the taper and went back to my original dose and tapered from there an equal amount from each of my doses and that worked.
When I got down to 1 mg 3X/day I then went to .5 mg (1/4 of a 2 mg tablet) 3X/day then stopped.
Once you get down to around 1-1.5 mg total dosage for the day the benzo isn’t really doing much except for maintaining the dependance.
So when you get down that low take the plunge and drop off that last 1-1.5 mg of Valium…
My taper schedule ended up being a hybrid between the Ashton Manual and Point of Return…so check Point of Return also…they will give you a free consult and are experts at getting people off benzos/antidepressants/antipsychotics.
So the taper rate and schedule is critical.
There’s no rush, you can do it and you’ll be glad you got off this crap because I sure am and feel good and clear headed.
I believe you can do it…so as Yoda says “There is no try, either do or don’t”.
Did it work or no I’m suffering bad
no, l’m sufferin’ bad, son.
l desperately need a smart person with whom to talk, shoot the breeze. l forget what l was saying. l am interested in everything, marine engineer 30yrs., bluesman for life, writer, like old volvos and XKjaguars and harleys. cannot do anything anymore. ‘doc’ pulled rank [01/11/19] taking my usual – 50-years – 6mg/day and dropping it to 1.5mg/d…l don’t know what to do; family has deserted like rats, including my lovely wife for whom l care deeply. l am alone, got the rats bad, and will stop this foolishness when my 3mg kick in. l have just refused to do this to myself again. so, anyone out there with a word for a sick old man? oh, shit, listen to the self-pity. what a wimp l am. ha-ha…
darryl you are tapering too quickly. avoid as much stess as possible. you may feel crazy but you are not. stay warm, go slowly, try controlling thoughts by using touch, sound, sight – seneses – to stay in the moment until the rough wave passes
Seek the Ashton Manual – find a psychiatrist willing to use this method
You did not say what specific drug you are on. The best help I received was found on Benzo Buddies. I did a cut and hold taper. It is very difficult to find a doctor that understands this problem. I printed out the Ashton Manual and the procedure for a slow taper and actually took it to the doctor’s office with me. It is unfortunate that we need to do this, but most of them don’t understand that benzo withdrawal is different from opioid withdrawal. Ashton is excellent. I transitioned from Ativan to Valium which has a longer “half life”. I tapered off totally, and this took quite a while. I have now been totally benzo free for 19 months. I am still not totally symptom free, but improved. It takes time. There are no magic drugs that can help, and other drugs can only result in you becoming “poly drugged”. You must taper off, and let your body heal. Good luck to you, people do get better.
Bro your not a wimp .6 mg a day of what?
I too,am now going through benzo withdrawal after being diagaosed with M.S. back in 1999,was put on the medication after my neurologist recommend to calm me after given a mind and life altering diagnosis at the age of 29. I know at 21 years of taking the medication Xanax daily for 21 years found myself with trying to get off this medication is impossible,I am feeling every and any withdrawal system in the world!! What can I do? I am going on my 7th day and have not got a bit of relief from the withdrawals from oviously this nasty drug. Please help me make it through this. Sincerely Beth
Dear Beth,
I’ve tried for the better part of this year 2019 to get off Klonopin. I used it for 12 years for anxiety and insomnia. In January 2019 I went into detox they got me off in 2 days and sent me home needless to say I was suffering grave anxiety by the fourth day home from the hospital. I went back on Klonopin then in March my doctor started me on a taper by September I went back on again because I couldn’t take the taper. I felt hopeless and somewhat suicidal in October and I went through the emergency room the inpatient Behavioral Health Unit at Cleveland Clinic. I was there for 8 days. They tapered me off of the Klonopin and put me on lithium and Zyprexa for my anxiety and insomnia. I am still having withdrawal symptoms from being off the clonazepam but they’re not severe I’m able to manage with the help of the lithium and Zyprexa. I don’t think you can just come right off of benzos without the help of some other medication to help your anxiety hope this helps. Good luck.
This thread is a bit old and hopefully you’re better by now. If you were back to ER 3 times in in 3 months and was put back on the medication, then yoi were not following a very slow tapering off protocol.
If it’s possible at all for you to be treated in hospital for benzo withdrawal and detox or to have access to a psychiatrist, who can oversee your medications (all of it) that would be great. God bless.
You need to add rectum pain , buttocks and coccyx pain sever , frozen shoulders, I’m in so much pain I can only stand or sit on the toilet for semi relief 😭
Did you go cold turkey? What dose were you on a d if tapering how are you doing it.
Did your symptoms ever resolve?
I was on anywhere from 8mg of clonipin to 1.5 a day, at times abusing them by ingesting up to 20 a day for over twenty five years, all doctor prescribed. I detoxed at a medical center for about a week 3 months ago. I am still having debilitating symptoms, preventing me from working or driving or sometimes even moving from the couch. The symptoms are erratic and come without warning, sometimes I go a week or more without any. Last week during a withdrawal episode I passed out and fell in the bathroom. Spent three days in hospital. I’ve been tapering to 40 mgs of Librium which helps but does not prevent attacks. I am getting depressed and hopeless as these attacks are taking both physical and emotional tolls. Are there better alternatives to Librium treatment and how long can I expect to be this dysfunctional? Thank you, please help!
After 30 years of taking Klonopin as prescribed I have failed to be able to discontinue at least 4 times including being sent to a detox facility in Florida. STAY AWAY FROM ANY OF THESE. It may sound hard to believe but I suffer from many of these symptoms even though I still take the same dose of Klonopin as initially prescribed. Any suggestions??!!
Taper SLOWLY. EXTREMELY slow. Read “The Ashton Manual” by Prof Heather Ashton.
Work with an addiction specialist to taper very very very very slowly. Fast tapers do not
work, and often make patients WORSE. Benzos are the MOST addictive drugs in the world.
The Aston Manual is a fantastic resource and a good way to start your taper, but it gets way too aggressive near the end. Somewhere around 5 or 6 mg of Valium per day, you need to go to a daily microtaper. Look at benzobuddies.org to learn how to do this.
What do I do when my doctor refuses to believe this is necessary? It was nearly impossible to even find a doctor who would follow the Ashton taper with me…
Why is it so hard for Dr. To understand their are ways to do things ..just like doctor anonymous said 30 years plus he’s on it from the Block I just read you should be standing up and fighting for people
Blake thank you so much for your comment my name is james mladenovski my telephone number is 630-740-2476 please feel free to call me and that goes for anyone else that reads this I’m just trying to stay connected and save my life I am on adivan benzos thank you for your wonderful comments and your warnings God bless you
i too have been on ativan and depressants for 30 years or more…drs just drop you and worry about their butts than getting you help.. .i have been off for two weeks and am miserable…my husband and kids dont have a clue what im going thru….this town we live in offers no help….takes forever to see a dr…..omg….i need help…
I understand how you feel. I was on Ativan for 16 years. I got a wake up call when I became dizzy and fell and broke my pelvis. I knew I needed to get off of that stuff. I tapered down from Ativan to valium, and at .5mg valium had terrible psychotic symptoms. I went to the ER and was hospitalized for 4 days. I was given no further prescriptions, so in essence I jumped off at .5mg like cold turkey. I don’t recommend this, but the taper was not painless. I have now been off for 19 months, and though I am still having symptoms. I am a retired lady with grown children, so I don’t have the challenges of and raising a family. That must be terrible for you. My husband is very understanding, and reads the literature regarding benzos so that he can understand. I wish that there were facilities with knowledgeable medical professionals, support groups, and family educational programs for people recovering from benzos. Unfortunately there are not. I got a lot of support from benzo buddies. You are off now, and that is a big step. You WILL recover. There are no magic drugs that can help. Other meds like antidepressants can have negative side effects, and you may then become poly drugged. Time will heal you. Everyone is different, but you WILL heal. You have more strength than you think you do. Good luck.
Thank you for your information Blake my name is James Mladenovski my telephone number is 630- 740-2476 if anyone that reads this is interested please don’t hesitate to call me I am desperate to connect with people and talk to them and get encouragement and information from each other as well as you know that I am not alone people that are in the same boat as I am trying to save my life from these benzos I’m on ativan and I know it is toxic but what could I say I’m on them and I need to find a way out of them thank you God
Let’s not get crazy here, they are NOT the most addictive drug in the world
University student..huge pressure..reckless use of stimulants. Found benzos. Had to take year out. Over past 3 months has taken fluctuating huge benzo doses. Sudden family bereavement. Stopped himself by taking 30mg daily from 300mg for a few days..now tapering with gp.
Currently prescribed 25mg but not taking it all as he feels explosive and is losing control with ‘no filter?’
Forcing himself to look for a job to pay accumulated debts refusing to utilise funds given to him by parents. Now another family member is ill.
Is there a good online contact for him?
Taper so slowly you’re almost going backwards, and hold when sx get too much .. it’s a long long process . I don’t think if I’d known it would take me 2 an half years to get off 4 mg of Ativan I would ever have started .. but it is worth it when you’re out the other side … it really is..
Julie thank you for your comment my name is James Mladenovski my telephone number is 630-740-2476 please Julie give me a call and guide and help me taper down from my Ativan the right way or anyone that reads these formats I’m just seeking help thank you god bless you
Im going through almost every one of these. I have a severe histamine intolerance right now as well. I just can’t wait to feel better. This anxiety is almost unbearable anymore. I also have extreme agoraphobia right now too. I ctd off of 10mg xanax and im 6 months without. Every day im dizzy disoriented. Dissociation constant. I did not taper at all.
Charlene, I too am going through withdrawl, I’m 65 days off of 1mg of Ativan and 1 mg of Xanax ER . The anxiety has let up but I’m having horrible horrible allergy symptoms that nothing helps with. I’ve tried Benadryl, nasal sprays …. to no avail. I can barely do anything with constant nose running and sneezing! Does anyone else have this?
I am 19 months off and yes, I have dry sinuses, itching nose, itching skin, itching eyes. As far as I know from reading the list of benzo related symptoms, these are a result of the benzos. This is all part of the syndrome, which is neurological damage to just about every part of your body. Nothing like antihistamines can help this. Palliative measures, like saline nose drops, and steam from a hot shower offers temporary relief. Like everything else, these symptoms should lessen as time goes on. I live with them every day, in fact, my nose is running right now and I constantly feel like I want to blow my nose. Be patient. Time heals everything. I am trying to be patient about these symptoms, but I must admit it can be discouraging. Good luck with your recovery.
My name is James I am suffering from Ativan my telephone number is 630 740 2476 please call me so we can support each other share information alsi anyone else that reads my reply please call me I will talk to everyone and anyone and hopefully we can support each other and help each other get off this toxic poison …
About a year is reasonable, as is much longer. It’s impossible to determine because everyone has a different pace depending on their response to tapering. Check out https://www.benzoinfo.com/2017/10/09/benzodiazepine-tapering-strategies-and-solutions/
I am (FINALLY) nearing the end of my taper from 15 years of taking Klonopin as described. I know I am, and have always been, that “one off” of being super sensitive to drugs and changes in Rx’s. My question is this: How many (if any) have lasting/permanent damage from taking benzodiazepines long term? I’m really “surprising” local doctors and pharmacists by having tremors, gait issues, and lesser symptoms. Now, Cedars-Sinai neurology is looking in to possible neurological issues. I am no longer able to hold down my amazing job and no one seems to think I will be permanently disabled. I’m just trying to evaluate if they are correct and it will possibly take more time after my taper…or, if permanent damage has been legitimately experienced by others.
I have been on alprazolam 0.5mg daily with 0.25mg prn MDD 0.75mg, for many years. I missed a day of my meds and had constant feelings of deja Vu until I dosed. What is a realistic time frame for being able to taper and wean from this. I only take it at night.
My issue is skelectal muscles that contract so hard upon standing that I have been chair bound for 5 years and not only has it not let up ,it has gotten worse each year and an example was at 2 am I needed to use the bathroom and I had to slide off my couch,and pull myself along on my ass to the bathroom ,then hope the sink would not come off the wall,pull myself up to standing and reverse that procedure to get back to my couch/ recliner! I have extreme tinnitus and head pressure that is never ending ! I have a neurologist( have tried 3 ) no help,even Botox did nothing and I wonder if I will get better or die from this ! ( I was on 8 mg of lorazapam for over 9 years and taken off in a 5 week taper after crossing over to Valium)