Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or SMART Recovery offer weekly meetings where participants share experiences and strategies. While AA emphasizes spirituality, SMART Recovery focuses on self-empowerment, catering to diverse preferences. Both drug addiction treatment formats encourage consistent attendance for at least 6 months to maximize benefits. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor.

• However, having a generalized understanding of the timeline can help both users and caregivers better prepare and cope with the process.
• While the withdrawal process can be challenging, many individuals find that with the right support, treatments, and coping strategies, they can return to a fulfilling, drug-free life.
• Additionally, a supportive environment, proper nutrition, and hydration play crucial roles in aiding recovery.
• This week ASAM released the new Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering.

Factors Influencing the Withdrawal Timeline

For short-acting ones like Xanax, symptoms might begin within hours of discontinuation. At a cellular level, benzodiazepines work by enhancing the efficacy of GABA, a neurotransmitter responsible for inhibiting brain activity. By potentiating GABA’s effects, benzodiazepines effectively ‘slow down’ the brain, leading to the calming and sedative effects characteristic of these drugs. Every month, 150,000 people search for addiction or mental health treatment on Recovery.com. Our advisory council brings together leaders in behavioral health, technology, and business. Their diverse expertise ensures our resources and product are innovative, evidence-based, benzo withdrawal timeline and effective.

The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health Drug and Alcohol Rehab

Nearly all patients who take BZD regularly for more than a month will develop physical dependence, while only 1.5% will develop a BZD use disorder. In performing a rigorous,  systematic review of the evidence around tapering BZD, the guideline development committee was surprised by the paucity of research https://ecosoberhouse.com/ given that the need for BZD tapering is a relatively common clinical situation. If these severe withdrawal symptoms occur, a person needs medical supervision. The risk of these types of withdrawal symptoms is so high when coming off benzos that people shouldn’t try to detox outside of a medical facility. While there are commonalities in withdrawal symptoms across various substances, benzodiazepine withdrawal is characterized by its potential for seizures, intense rebound anxiety, and insomnia. Its protracted withdrawal phase, which can last for months to years, is also relatively unique.

When To Call the Doctor

That’s why we have a comprehensive set of treatment providers and don’t charge for inclusion. We do not and have never accepted fees for referring someone to a particular center. Providers who advertise with us must be verified by our Research Team and we clearly mark their status as advertisers. Researched, fact-checked and transparent articles and guides that offer addiction and mental health insight from experts and treatment professionals. Physical symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal are slurred speech, impaired vision, vomiting, and flu-like symptoms. Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia, and alcohol withdrawal.