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Benzodiazepine Information Coalition

Estimates of Patients Experiencing Withdrawal

*Note: The term “addicted” in quoted statistics are conflated with what may actually be physical dependence so long as there is no behavior of abuse involved.

According to Dr. Heather Ashton, “Some people can stop their benzodiazepines with no symptoms at all: according to some authorities, this figure may be as high as 50% even after a year of chronic usage. Even if this figure is correct (which is arguable) it is unwise to stop benzodiazepines suddenly.”

Dr. Malcolm Lader states, “I estimate about 20-30% of people who are on a benzodiazepine like diazepam have trouble coming off and of those about a third have very distressing symptoms.”

Reconnexion, a nonprofit organization in Australia offering counseling and support for benzodiazepine dependent patients, states: “It is estimated that between 50-80% of people who have taken benzodiazepines continually for six months or longer will experience withdrawal symptoms when reducing the dose.”

In this study, which compared “the effect on withdrawal severity and acute outcome of a 25% per week taper of short half-life vs long half-life benzodiazepines in 63 benzodiazepine-dependent patients,” ninety percent of patients experienced a withdrawal reaction but, according to the study authors, “it was rarely more than mild to moderate.”

According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Benzodiazepine Task Force on Benzodiazepine Dependence, Toxicity, and Abuse 40-80% of patients experience withdrawal.

The Royal College of Psychiatry and the Royal College of General Practitioners states that “around 4 in every 10 people who take them every day for more than 6 weeks will become addicted*.”

Hood et al. (2014) finds that anyone who has taken benzodiazepines for a period of at least six months and then who attempts to quickly stop the medication will experience some withdrawal reactions, and for 40% the reactions will be moderate or severe.

The American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Clinical Practice Guidelines for Panic Disorder (2009) warns that “all benzodiazepines will produce physiological dependence in most patients.”

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  • About Benzodiazepines
    • Benzo Basics
      • Ashton Manual
      • A Brief History Of Benzodiazepines
      • Class Actions, Lawsuits and Reporting Harm 
      • FDA 2020 Benzodiazepine Boxed Warning
      • Medications and Supplements of Concern
      • Sleeping Pills: What You Need to Know
      • Xanax Study Outcomes
    • 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
      • Detox, Cold Turkey, Abrupt Cessation
      • Dosages Prevent Safe Withdrawal
      • Estimates of Withdrawal
      • The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines
      • How To Find Tapering Help
      • Phenobarbital
      • Tapering Strategies and Solutions
    • 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
      • Benzodiazepines and COVID-19
      • Older Adults
      • Women
      • Incarcerated Population
      • Substance Use Disorders
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Board Members and Advisors
    • Press Room
    • Receive Our Newsletter
    • FAQs
    • Volunteer
  • Our Impact
    • Media Outreach
    • Press Room
    • Programs
    • Research and Publications
    • Past Speaking and Events
    • Upcoming Events
  • Resources
    • Find Support
    • Benzodiazepine Cooperative Providers
    • Information
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Donate
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