On October 6, 2019, journalist Lisa Ling profiled the lived experiences of those impacted by benzodiazepine injury on her show This is Life with Lisa Ling. In the 44-minute segment, Ling interviewed several benzodiazepine survivors and their families, including Krissy Tyrell, a member of our General Advisory Board. The stories are searingly vulnerable, filled with hope, triumph, and pain. Each interviewee represents a piece of the broader story surrounding the benzodiazepine crisis, and a reason for our activism.
The producers initially contacted the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC) and worked closely with our General Advisory Board member Brooke Monk to ensure accurate representation of the story. Their efforts were successful, and five years later, this episode stands out as one of the most impactful media pieces highlighting benzodiazepine harm. For those interested in watching, the episode is available for purchase for $2–$3 on the popular streaming platforms like Apple, Amazon and YouTube, and can also be streamed on Max.
About The Episode
The episode memorializes Jonathan Wagner through interviews with his parents, Debbie and Tom Wagner. Beloved by his parents, Jonathan was a caring and friendly young man who enjoyed sports and spending time with friends. He was prescribed benzodiazepines for sleep issues while working the night shift at a casino. When the initial dose worsened his sleep dysfunction, his doctor prescribed a higher dose. Despite always taking his medication as prescribed, Jonathan tragically spiraled into severe adverse and withdrawal effects, including akathisia—a painful movement disorder—along with anxiety and depression, which ultimately claimed his life.
After hearing the Wagners’ story, Ling consulted with a pharmacist, Mohammed. Mohammed explained that, when a patient is prescribed a benzodiazepine, they are given a leaflet listing possible risks and side effects. However, the more serious risks, such as suicidal ideation, are buried at the bottom of the leaflet. Mohammed also noted potential effects of benzodiazepine withdrawal, like seizures and tremors.
Ling then interviewed Dr. Anna Lembke, a psychiatrist at Stanford University. Dr. Lembke emphasized that benzodiazepines should only be used as a short-term tool for treating anxiety and insomnia, for no longer than a “couple of weeks.” Abruptly stopping benzodiazepines can lead to adverse outcomes such as restlessness, which may refer to akathisia, as well as depression, heightened anxiety, motor tics, seizures, and suicidal thoughts. Current FDA guidelines on tapering measures and timelines are vague. Dr. Lembke’s expertise highlights a greater need for precise and accurate tapering guidance.
Krissy Tyrell, a mother of two and former teacher, shares her experience with benzodiazepine injury following Klonopin prescribed for anxiety. Tyrell’s doctors prescribed her Klonopin to help her cope with her infant daughter’s health concerns. Tyrell told Ling, “[my daughter] eventually got better. But I didn’t.” Tyrell wanted to stop taking Klonopin. Though she followed her providers’ tapering instructions, she still ended up in a terrifying withdrawal state, including severe physical symptoms and suicidality. Tyrell knew that she had to continue living for the sake of her children, so she gave up on the medical field’s ineffective cessation guidance and turned to other patients on the internet, and a local, patient-led support group, where she learned about slow microtapering. She even demonstrated her microtapering process to Lisa in the episode. She now serves on our General Advisory Board.
Even Lisa Ling discovered during filming that her own father’s sudden mysterious decline, which she thought would be terminal, was benzodiazepine-related. His medical providers failed to recognize clonazepam (generic Klonopin) as the cause of his decline, but Lisa connected his situation to the stories she was covering. After discontinuing clonazepam, her father’s condition improved. Lisa’s husband, radiation oncologist Dr. Paul Song, discussed his father-in-law’s decline and recovery in his blog, Opioids Are Not the Only Class of Drugs That Are Causing Significant Harm: A Warning About Benzodiazepines.
Ling’s powerful narrative storytelling about the real-life impacts of benzodiazepines raises the question: What has changed since 2019? Three notable developments have taken place with support from BIC. They are the issuance of the FDA Boxed Warning, the naming of Benzodiazepine Induced Neurological Dysfunction (BIND) as a medical term to officially describe benzodiazepine-related neurological injury, and the creation of the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines.
FDA Boxed Warning (2020)
In 2017, BIC began a years-long MedWatch reporting drive to encourage patients to report their injuries. The reporting drive amassed thousands of adverse event reports; in 2019, the FDA investigated 104 of those events. Three years later, in September 2020, the FDA issued a new boxed warning for benzodiazepines. The FDA mentions BIC in their review as the reason for the surge of reports. It now recommends judicious benzodiazepine prescribing, gradual benzodiazepine tapering, and has placed a boxed warning label on all benzodiazepines.
While this achievement is significant, it remains incomplete. The FDA still does not fully address the true risks, has not informed doctors of the updated warning through a Dear Doctor letter, and fails to provide specific tapering guidance or assistance for those harmed by benzodiazepines. Nonetheless, it marks an important step toward patient safety. An in-depth report on BIC’s journey toward the boxed warning can be found here.
Benzodiazepine Induced Neurological Dysfunction (BIND) (2023)
In June 2023, a group of medical professionals, including our late Medical Director Dr. Christy Huff, proposed the term Benzodiazepine Induced Neurological Dysfunction (BIND) to “describe symptoms and associated adverse life consequences that may emerge during benzodiazepine use, tapering, and continue after benzodiazepine discontinuation.” Because the experiences of those with BIND have long been scantly recognized and supported, having an official name for those experiences plays a part in taking BIND out of the dark and into the light of societal and medical recognition.
Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines (2024)
This important evidence-based work from clinical research fellow and training psychiatrist Mark Horowitz finally offered usable, safe deprescribing guidance, including liquid tapers and microtapers. Both BIC’s current medical director, Nicole Lamberson, PA, and former medical director, Dr. Christy Huff, are listed as contributors to the benzodiazepine section. The book can be purchased here.
Looking Forward
In the five years since the Lisa Ling episode premiered, these three developments represent significant progress. We still have a ways to go — more research about BIND is needed, and the medical community still largely remains unaware of this harm, but the tide is slowly turning.
Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring, who serves on our Medical Advisory Board, has a practice entirely dedicated to deprescribing. His efforts, alongside those of Dr. Horowitz, began to address a need that was largely unrecognized five years ago when the Lisa Ling episode premiered.
Several BIC members are founding members of Benzodiazepine Action Work Group, developing multiple free continuing education modules about benzodiazepines that have been taken by numerous medical professionals.
There has also been an increase in media coverage. An informative article by Michael Roberts in Westwood, featuring Krissy Tyrell, was published as the show was airing. This was followed by even more media coverage, with many of our members assisting with or being featured in various interviews, including those in The Washington Post, Netflix, the Irish Examiner, Men’s Health, the Radio Canada exposé “Prescription Nightmare,” and various podcasts.
Together, we have a voice. Each day presents an opportunity to advance our mission while embracing our vision to break the stigma surrounding benzodiazepine injury, advocate for suffering patients, and promote research and access to competent, evidence-based medical care for those affected by benzodiazepine-induced disability.
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I need support as a person who is tapering and having no reason to live. Alone. I need someone who cares enough to pick up a phone or stop by and just be with me. Everything is 100% worse suffering alone. We need support. I am desperate
seeking a coubselor fir helo with withdrawls
I’m in a remote area of Australia, so it might be different for you. Here, public hospitals often have addiction specialist that can sometimes help with withdrawals.
But I havn’t found a councellor, psychiatrist or doctor that knows anything about psychiatric drug withdrawals.
However, Dr Josef Witt-Doerring has a YouTube channel that is full of helpful advice about withdrawing/tapering off psychiatric drugs. His advice is very good.
Look for @Dr Josef or @taper clinic on YouTube to find him. When we can’t find a professional to help us, me must educate ourselves.
I wish you all the best, God bless you 🙏
Three years after taking benzos clonazepam) and still not back to who I was before taking them, I’ve continued to try and voice what I’m feeling and physical symptoms to several doctors who still refuse to believe the drug is the cause. Mental health help and tests are suggested as a way forward and no matter how I explain, they all refuse to listen.
With no one to turn to, I rely completely on the research and information presented here at BIC. YOU ARE THE REASON I’m better and the reason I’m not throwing in the towel. You’ve let me know I’m not crazy, you’ve shared stories with others exactly like me who are experiencing the same.
Thank you and your entire team for the work you’ve done and hope you continue.