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BENZODIAZEPINE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
by Liz Wood
Liz Wood is the Midlands Co-ordinator for VOT (Victims of Tranquillisers) in the UK.
As time has gone by it has become more and more obvious that the benzodiazepines have intrinsic addictive properties; they would not be exchanging hands on the black market if they did not.
There are some symptoms that some researchers believe are seen mainly in benzodiazepine withdrawal and rarely seen in anxiety. Examples are perceptual symptoms like undulating floors. As a general rule however, these symptoms that develop during benzodiazepine ingestion and withdrawal that are different from the original problem are symptoms of a withdrawal syndrome. Usually there are a cluster of symptoms that appear together.
Some of the symptoms that occur can be attributed directly to benzodiazepines whilst others like weight gain are secondary symptoms related to the overall withdrawal effect i.e. inability to exercise due to muscular rigidity could result in weight gain. Also the symptoms that may have occurred due to an original anxiety problem may well be enhanced by the addiction. The very people the drug is supposed to help the most are those that it helps the least.
It is also worth mentioning that regardless of whether the drug is addictive or not, the therapeutic effects are not conducive to solving the original problems. In the very short term the sedative effects may be beneficial in situations of shock due to accident or death for example. However counselling, behaviour therapy and psychotherapy are less effective whilst the drug is being ingested.
List of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptoms
Compiled by Stanley Coombes for VOT. It is interesting to note that during
ingestion and withdrawal he experienced all of these symptoms.
of the eyes |
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front of you when speaking |
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you are dying |
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people and things |
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under the scalp |
of synchronisation with the body |
teeth and gums |
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pins and needles |
mouth while sleeping |
the shoulder blades |
over the whole body |
when climbing stairs |
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weeks to heal |
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colour from pink to grey |
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from the body |
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the simplest of things |
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A Series of Benzodiazepine Articles by Liz Wood
See also the Main Symptoms Index