Skip to content
  • Report Harm
  • Newsletter
  • Shop
  • Media Kit
Facebook Linkedin Twitter RSS YouTube Instagram
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
    • 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
    • Media Kit
    • VolunteerExpand
      • Media Interview List Registration
      • Informed Consent Policy
      • FDA Reporting Program
      • Share Your Story!
  • Our Impact
  • ResourcesExpand
    • Ashton Manual
    • Benzodiazepine Tapering Strategies and Solutions
    • Financial and Disability Information
    • How To Find Tapering Help
    • Benzodiazepine Cooperative Providers
  • Blog
  • Contact UsExpand
    • Receive Our Newsletter
  • Donate
Donate
Facebook Linkedin Twitter Phone RSS Instagram
Benzodiazepine Information Coalition

Functional Brain Changes

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

The early work of Professor Malcolm H. Lader and his colleagues documented the first indication of anatomical brain changes associated with benzodiazepines using computed axial tomography (CAT scan), which revealed abnormalities in at least half of the patients examined in the study, with two patients having definite cortical atrophy. The patients were either dependent on or experiencing a protracted withdrawal syndrome from, benzodiazepines. The results warranted further research as they were suggestive of brain damage.

Functional brain changes, such as those observed in organic brain syndrome (OBS) or organic brain disease (OBD) are documented in the literature to be associated by sedative-hypnotics and their respective withdrawal syndromes. OBS is a condition characterized by mental and/or cognitive function impairments that are physiological in nature – the symptoms occur without a psychiatric pathophysiology. Benzodiazepine physical dependence and withdrawal, alcoholism, and other centrally acting drugs are documented to be among its many possible causes.

Perceptual and sensory disturbances suggest a hyperexcitable central nervous system while recovering from benzodiazepine exposure and cessation. Problems with balance, hearing, tinnitus, and hypersensitivity to sound (hyperacusis) suggests possible vestibular involvement – the part of the brain that’s connected to the inner and middle ear. Hypersensitivity to touch, smell and light can also occur. To be understood, these phenomena require more research, but the documentation of their existence adds to the overwhelming amount of evidence that medication physical dependence and discontinuation (withdrawal) can significantly impact functional brain activity on a cellular level.

In 2011, Professor C. Heather Ashton made a public update to include supplemental information regarding brain damage to “Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw” which has been modified in 2012 and 2013. In the update, she wrote that any brain damage caused by benzodiazepines and/or their withdrawal syndrome is more of the functional variety than anatomical, involving the down-regulation of GABAA neuroreceptors in the central nervous system, where the receptor sites themselves become fewer and/or desensitized as a result of the presence of benzodiazepine continually occupying the receptor. It is hypothesized that the brain and central nervous system, in an attempt to reach a state of homeostasis and stability, will naturally oppose the constant presence of a drug in this way. These types of brain changes may be more apparently observed in more modern, more sophisticated functional brain activity studies such as fMRIs or qEEGs. It is unknown whether any potential brain and central nervous system changes induced by benzodiazepines can become permanent. Further research would be required to determine this. 

There are other, non-benzodiazepine pharmaceutical medications that are well-known to cause functional brain and central nervous system damage. In particular, antipsychotics, antiemetics, treatments for Parkinson’s disease and dopaminergic pharmaceuticals are especially known to possibly cause movement disorders during or after their treatment. These movement disorders are known as Tardive Dyskinesia (TD), akathisia, dystonia among others – “tardive” meaning that the onset may occur long after cessation of the drug. TD is well-known to be potentially permanent in some cases.  Atrophic brain changes have been observed after long-term treatment with antipsychotics, apparently worsening mental illness in some cases. Awareness of this risk became more heavily documented in the literature as more people were presenting with more visibly obvious signs and symptoms to neurologist’s offices. Movement disorder signs are readily recognizable, even in non-verbal patients, as they are so obvious and specific in their presentation. As such, highly dopaminergic drugs have fallen out of use even in psychiatry. High-profile celebrity cases of movement disorders such as Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and struggled with his levodopa (dopaminergic drug) treatment, helped bring awareness to the problem of movement disorders associated with pharmaceuticals. 

Contact Us

Inquiries:
bic@benzoinfo.com

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 Us

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

Receive the latest benzodiazepine activism news, events and calls to action.

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

Twitter Facebook Linkedin YouTube Instagram

© 2022 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
    • 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
    • Media Kit
    • Volunteer
      • Media Interview List Registration
      • Informed Consent Policy
      • FDA Reporting Program
      • Share Your Story!
  • Our Impact
  • Resources
    • Ashton Manual
    • Benzodiazepine Tapering Strategies and Solutions
    • Financial and Disability Information
    • How To Find Tapering Help
    • Benzodiazepine Cooperative Providers
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Receive Our Newsletter
  • Donate
Search
Open toolbar

Accessibility Tools

  • Increase Text
  • Decrease Text
  • Grayscale
  • High Contrast
  • Negative Contrast
  • Light Background
  • Links Underline
  • Readable Font
  • Reset