Many patients experience withdrawal and post withdrawal syndromes when stopping benzodiazepines like Valium (diazepam), Klonopin (clonazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Tranxene (clorazepate dipotassium), Onfi (clobazam), Librium (chlordiazepoxide) and Ativan (lorazepam). 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. These symptoms can occur while still taking the medication if in tolerance and interdose withdrawal are present, or they may present during a taper and/or post-cessation. The most severe symptoms (like seizures, hallucinations, akathisia, suicidality) typically result from over-rapid tapering or abrupt cessation.
A
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
B
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
Burping
Buzzing, burning, tingling limbs
C
Catatonia
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
D
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
E
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
F
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
G
Gait Abnormality
Gastritis
Glassy eyes
Goosebumps – very visible to the eye
Grinding teeth
H
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
I
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
J
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
L
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
M
Memory Problems
Menstrual Problems
Metallic Taste
Mood swings
Muscle aches
Muscle spasms
Muscle stiffness
Muscle rigidity
Muscle weakness
N
Nausea
Nervousness
Nightmares
Night sweats
Numbness/Tingling
O
Obsessions and obsessive behavior, OCD
Orgasm changes
Outbursts of aggression and rage
P
Pain
Painful scalp
Panic Attacks
Paresthesia
Paranoia
Parosmia
Perception Distortion
Passing gas continually
Phobias
Post Traumatic Stress symptoms
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
Premature menopause
Pseudobulbar / PBA (uncontrollable crying or laugh)
Psychotic symptoms
R
Racing Thoughts
Rapid blinking of the eyes
Rapid weight loss
Rashes on skin
Reading/Comprehension Problems
Repetitive Thoughts
Restless Legs
S
Scalp Pain
Shivering
Sinusitis
Speech difficulties
Swallowing difficulties
T
Tachycardia
Teeth Pain
Thyroid disturbances
Ticking
Tinnitus
Toxic naps
Tremor
Twitching
U
Urinary Problems
V
Vertigo
Visual disturbances – waves, sparks, flashes of light, seeing spots, floaters, blurry
Vomiting
W
Weakness
Weight Gain or Loss
Z
Zaps