Benzodiazepine and Z-drug Withdrawal

What is Benzodiazepine and Z-drug Withdrawal ❓

 Benzodiazepines are drugs prescribed to treat anxiety and sleeping problems e.g. diazepam 🛌

 Z-drugs which have reduced effects (e.g. next-day sedation) can be prescribed

 High risk of dependency/tolerance with long term use of these drugs (over 4 weeks) 📆

 Causes: withdrawal usually occurs when drugs are stopped

What are the Symptoms of Withdrawal ❓

 Sweating 😰

 Insomnia (sleep disturbance) 💤

 Headache

 Tremor

 Anxiety/depression 😔

How do you Diagnose Withdrawal ❓

 Patient assessment 📋

 Specialist referral for complex cases

How do you Treat Withdrawal ❓

 Advice on why withdrawing is beneficial ⛔

 Slow/gradual dose reduction to reduce effects

 Regular patient reviews 🏥

Why should I Worry about Withdrawal ❓

 Can be very difficult to go through 💪

 Withdrawal is necessary as long term use may cause:

 Over-sedation, aggravation of pre-existing mental issues, amnesia 💭

 Older people are more vulnerable to the effects 🧓