Skip to content
  • Report Harm
  • Newsletter
  • Press Room
Facebook Linkedin YouTube Instagram Twitter Spotify
Benzodiazepine Information Coalition
  • About BenzodiazepinesExpand
    • Benzo BasicsExpand
      • Ashton Manual
      • A Brief History Of Benzodiazepines
      • Class Actions and Lawsuits—and Reporting Harm 
      • FDA 2020 Benzodiazepine Boxed Warning
      • Medications and Supplements of Concern
      • Xanax Study Outcomes
    • Benzo Stories
    • PrescribingExpand
      • Addiction vs Physical Dependence
      • Genetic Testing
      • Informed Consent
      • Low Dose Benzodiazepines
      • Mechanism of Action
      • Prescribing Statistics
      • Steps to Reduce Benzodiazepine Overprescribing
      • Therapeutic Actions
    • Prescribing RisksExpand
      • Akathisia
      • Fluoroquinolones
      • Functional Brain Changes
      • Interdose Withdrawal
      • Paradoxical Reactions
      • Physical Dependence
      • Risks of Remaining on Benzodiazepines
      • Red Flags
      • Short-Term Risks
      • Side Effects
      • Suicide
      • Tolerance
    • DeprescribingExpand
      • Ashton Manual
      • Tapering Strategies and Solutions
      • Detox, Cold Turkey, Abrupt Cessation
      • Estimates of Withdrawal
      • How To Find Tapering Help
      • Dosages Prevent Safe Withdrawal
      • Why Patients Shouldn’t Go To Detox or Rehab
    • Desprescribing RisksExpand
      • Akathisia
      • Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome (BWS)
      • Forced Switching or Stopping
      • Functional Brain Changes
      • Kindling
      • Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome (PWS)
      • Suicide
      • Withdrawal & Post Withdrawal Symptoms
    • Special PopulationsExpand
      • Benzodiazepines and PTSD
      • Celebrities
      • COVID-19
      • Elderly
      • Women
      • Incarcerated Population
      • Substance Use Disorders
  • About UsExpand
    • Our Mission
    • Board Members and Advisors
    • Press Room
    • Receive Our Newsletter
    • FAQs
    • VolunteerExpand
      • Informed Consent Policy
      • FDA Reporting Program
      • Share Your Story!
      • Media Interview List Registration
    • Contact Us
  • Our ImpactExpand
    • Media Outreach
    • Podcasts
    • Programs and Projects
    • Research and Publications
    • Speaking and Events
    • Quarterly Updates
    • Upcoming Events
  • ResourcesExpand
    • Ashton Manual
    • Benzodiazepine Tapering Strategies and Solutions
    • Financial and Disability Information
    • How To Find Tapering Help
    • Support
    • Information
    • Benzodiazepine Cooperative Providers
  • Blog
  • Donate
Donate
Facebook Linkedin Twitter Instagram YouTube
Benzodiazepine Information Coalition

Withdrawal & Post Withdrawal Symptoms

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. 

Table of Contents
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • Z

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
Buzzing, burning, tingling limbs

C

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 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
Paraesthesia
Paranoia 
Paraesthesia
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
Repetative 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

Contact Us

Inquiries
bic@benzoinfo.com

As an awareness organization, we do not offer any support services or guidance. See our resources for services and support.

Mailing Address
1042 Ft. Union Blvd, PMB 1030
Midvale, Utah 84047

Support BIC

We were formed to change the lack of knowledge in the public and the medical system. But we cannot do it alone. We rely solely on donations to operate. We are a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

DONATE

Newsletter

Get notified about the latest studies, updates, calls to action, media stories, and other information.

*

IMPORTANT: After signing up, check your email to confirm we have the correct address. If you do not see an email, check your spam. We will add you to our newsletter once you complete this step to ensure delivery.

Notices

Benzodiazepine Information Coalition is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.

EIN: 81-3442343

Privacy Policy
Medical Disclaimer
Terms and Conditions
Free Charity Hosting by Kualo

Facebook Linkedin YouTube Instagram Twitter Spotify

© 2023 Benzodiazepine Information Coalition

Scroll to top
  • About Benzodiazepines
    • Benzo Basics
      • Ashton Manual
      • A Brief History Of Benzodiazepines
      • Class Actions and Lawsuits—and Reporting Harm 
      • FDA 2020 Benzodiazepine Boxed Warning
      • Medications and Supplements of Concern
      • Xanax Study Outcomes
    • Benzo Stories
    • Prescribing
      • Addiction vs Physical Dependence
      • Genetic Testing
      • Informed Consent
      • Low Dose Benzodiazepines
      • Mechanism of Action
      • Prescribing Statistics
      • Steps to Reduce Benzodiazepine Overprescribing
      • Therapeutic Actions
    • Prescribing Risks
      • Akathisia
      • Fluoroquinolones
      • Functional Brain Changes
      • Interdose Withdrawal
      • Paradoxical Reactions
      • Physical Dependence
      • Risks of Remaining on Benzodiazepines
      • Red Flags
      • Short-Term Risks
      • Side Effects
      • Suicide
      • Tolerance
    • Deprescribing
      • Ashton Manual
      • Tapering Strategies and Solutions
      • Detox, Cold Turkey, Abrupt Cessation
      • Estimates of Withdrawal
      • How To Find Tapering Help
      • Dosages Prevent Safe Withdrawal
      • Why Patients Shouldn’t Go To Detox or Rehab
    • Desprescribing Risks
      • Akathisia
      • Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome (BWS)
      • Forced Switching or Stopping
      • Functional Brain Changes
      • Kindling
      • Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome (PWS)
      • Suicide
      • Withdrawal & Post Withdrawal Symptoms
    • Special Populations
      • Benzodiazepines and PTSD
      • Celebrities
      • COVID-19
      • Elderly
      • Women
      • Incarcerated Population
      • Substance Use Disorders
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Board Members and Advisors
    • Press Room
    • Receive Our Newsletter
    • FAQs
    • Volunteer
      • Informed Consent Policy
      • FDA Reporting Program
      • Share Your Story!
      • Media Interview List Registration
    • Contact Us
  • Our Impact
    • Media Outreach
    • Podcasts
    • Programs and Projects
    • Research and Publications
    • Speaking and Events
    • Quarterly Updates
    • Upcoming Events
  • Resources
    • Ashton Manual
    • Benzodiazepine Tapering Strategies and Solutions
    • Financial and Disability Information
    • How To Find Tapering Help
    • Support
    • Information
    • Benzodiazepine Cooperative Providers
  • Blog
  • Donate
Search
Open toolbar Accessibility Tools

Accessibility Tools

  • Increase TextIncrease Text
  • Decrease TextDecrease Text
  • GrayscaleGrayscale
  • High ContrastHigh Contrast
  • Negative ContrastNegative Contrast
  • Light BackgroundLight Background
  • Links UnderlineLinks Underline
  • Readable FontReadable Font
  • Reset Reset