Christy Huff, MD, was a cardiologist and director of Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, a nonprofit that educates about the adverse effects of prescribed benzodiazepines. Dr. Huff attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern where she graduated Alpha Omega Alpha. She completed an internal medicine residency at Washington University in St. Louis and a cardiology fellowship at U.T. Southwestern, with a focus in advanced cardiovascular imaging and noninvasive cardiology. Dr. Huff is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, and was a private practice cardiologist in Fort Worth, Texas until 2011, when she became a stay-at-home mom after the birth of her daughter.
Dr. Huff experienced benzodiazepine adverse effects and injury firsthand after three weeks of prescribed Xanax use for insomnia in 2015. Over a three-year period, she slowly tapered off benzodiazepines utilizing Valium, and suffered a protracted and disabling withdrawal. Her personal experience led her to realize the serious risks of these medications and the severity of the benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome, neither of which were emphasized during her medical training. Dr. Huff specifically advocated for better education of physicians regarding the adverse effects of benzodiazepines and how to safely taper patients off these medications. In addition to her work at BIC, she was a member of the Colorado Consortium’s Benzodiazepine Action Work Group. Dr. Huff passed away in 2024.
The Misery of Benzodiazepine Illness Can Far Eclipse The Horrors Of Cancer
Gary Gately
Breaking Cancer News
October 17, 2023
How to do a Micro Taper: An Interview With Christy Huff
Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring
September 8, 2023
What patients — and doctors — should know about ‘benzo’ withdrawal
Sharon Goldman
The Washington Post
September 2, 2023
A De-prescription for Mental Health – with Dr. Mark Horowitz & Dr. Christy Huff
Modern Minds podcast
June 15, 2023
Propranolol, with Dr. Christy Huff
Benzotired podcast
June 5, 2023
Dr. Christy Huff on Benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium
Most Days Podcast
May 25, 2023
Christy Huff, M.D., Director of Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC)
Benzotired Podcast
April 5, 2023
Meet Christy Huff: Physical and Medical Director, Benzodiazepine Information Coalition
Shoutout DFW
March 7, 2023
Safe Prescription Drug Use
Amy Keller, RN, BSN
DrugWatch
January 26, 2023
Surviving Harm from a Prescribed Medication with Dr Christy Huff: Director of Benzodiazepine Information Coalition. Prescribed Benzodiazepines, recovery and positive change
Cassette Monkeys #PressPlay Podcast
October 30, 2022
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome with Dr. Christy Huff
Family Health with Dr. Lex Podcast
October 25, 2021
First Do No Harm with Christy Huff
JOWMA (Jewish Orthodox Women’s Medical Association) Podcast
September, 2022
First Do No Harm with Dr Christy Huff
The Rehab Podcast
April 2, 2022
Cardiologist Discusses her Personal Experience with Benzodiazepine Withdrawal | Interview
TrialSiteNews Podcast
March 17, 2022
Surviving Xanax.. Christy Huff and Nicole Lamberson
Dr. Patricia Halligan
May 18, 2021
Why You Should Try a ‘Coffee Nap’—and Other Surprising Tips on How to Sleep Better
Nicole Pajer
Parade
July 26, 2020
Escape the Anxiety Trap
Peter Andrey Smith
Men’s Health
May 27, 2020
Benzo nightmare: US doctor on a personal mission to highlight the dangers of the drug
Margaret Jennings
Irish Examiner
April 24, 2020
Conversation with Dr. Christy Huff
Benzo Free Podcast
November 13, 2019
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal & Dependency: Dr. Christy Huff’s Horrible Experience
Causes or Cures Podcast
July 5, 2019
The Rise of the Social Media Doctor
Dana Corriel, MD
Self
April 26, 2019
The Deadly Worst-Case Scenario for America’s Xanax Obsession
Maia Szalavitz
Vice
February 13, 2019
Dangers of rising benzo prescriptions raise alarms of next drug crisis
NBC
July 27, 2018
These Pills Could Be Next U.S. Drug Epidemic, Public Health Officials Say
Christine Vestal
Stateline
July 18, 2018
Talk Radio Europe, Hosted by Stacey Pinkerton:
July 11, 2018
The Frightening Benzodiazepine Reality with Dr. Christy Huff from the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition
Overprescribed Podcast
May, 2018
With benzos, a doctor discovers ease of dependency, ordeal of withdrawal
MJ Tidwell
Daily Hampshire Gazette
January 1, 2018
I Tried to Get Off Ativan
Harriet Brown
Vice
January 12, 2017
Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction
CIRS Annual Summit
July 16, 2023
Consequences of Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction: A Survey
American Society of Addiction Medicine Conference
April 15, 2023
Lived Experience with Benzodiazepines
CSAM Conference
August 26, 2022
Recovering from Benzodiazepine Use for Peer Specialists
Choices / Embark PCA / Benzodiazepine Action Work Group
December, 2022
Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction (BIND)
University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus
June, 2022
Presenter
Mental Wealth Mastery Summit
November, 2021
Testimony
Massachusetts Benzodiazepine Bill
November 8, 2021
Tapering and Managing Withdrawal w/ Christy Huff, MD
DocTalk4
September 21, 2021
Safe Use of Benzodiazepines: Clinical, Regulatory, and Public Health Perspectives
Duke University Margolis Center for Health Policy
July, 2021
Safe Prescribing Protocols of Benzodiazepines: Lessons Learned from the Opioid Crisis
Mesa County Response Group, Colorado Consortium
July 18, 2021
Presenter
West Coast Symposium on Addictive Disorders
2020
Benzodiazepines: A Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
December, 2020
The updated benzodiazepine boxed warning: What you need to know
Kevin MD
March 23, 2021
Stop cutting patients off their prescribed benzodiazepines
Kevin MD
January 2, 2020
A Xanax prescription that should have been rejected
Kevin MD
February 27, 2019
Don’t miss this adverse drug reaction when tapering benzodiazepines
Kevin MD
November 27, 2018
Internet support forums for benzodiazepine withdrawal: the good, the bad, and the ugly
Kevin MD
May 5, 2018
10 tips to help patients through benzodiazepine withdrawal
Kevin MD
March 20, 2018
Take it from this physician: Beware the dangers of benzodiazepines
Kevin MD
November 6, 2017
Lynch T, Ryan C, Huff C, Foster DE, Cadogan C. ‘We need more support and doctors that understand the process of tapering …’: A content analysis of free‐text responses to a questionnaire on discontinuing long‐term benzodiazepine receptor agonist use. Health Expectations. 2024;27(1). doi:10.1111/hex.13962
Ritvo AD, Foster DE, Huff C, Finlayson AJR, Silvernail B, et al. (2023) Long-term consequences of benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction: A survey. PLOS ONE 18(6): e0285584. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0285584
Huff, C., Finlayson, A. R., Foster, D. E., & Martin, P. R. (2023). Enduring neurological sequelae of benzodiazepine use: an Internet survey. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 13, 20451253221145561.
Lynch, T., Ryan, C., Bradley, C., Foster, D., Huff, C., Hutchinson, S., … & Cadogan, C. (2022). Supporting safe and gradual reduction of long‐term benzodiazepine receptor agonist use: Development of the SAFEGUARDING‐BZRAs toolkit using a codesign approach. Health Expectations, 25(4), 1904-1918.
Reid Finlayson, A. J., Macoubrie, J., Huff, C., Foster, D. E., & Martin, P. R. (2022). Experiences with benzodiazepine use, tapering, and discontinuation: an Internet survey. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 12, 20451253221082386.
Huff, C., (2021). Response to “Acute and Persistent Withdrawal Syndromes following Discontinuation of Psychotropic Medications” by Cosci et al. (2020). Psychother Psychosom 2021;90:207-208. doi: 10.1159/000514045
Huff, L.C., Martin, P.R., Reid Finlayson, A.J., (2017). Position Statement On The Use Of Benzodiazepines In Patients Receiving Buprenorphine Treatment. Unpublished.