Stopping benzodiazepine treatment
It is very important that if you have been taking benzodiazepines for more than a few weeks that you get medical advice from your doctor before you stop taking your medication.
Side effects can occur after stopping the drug, and is most problematic for those people who have been taking benzodiazepines for some time and so may have developed a dependence (an addiction which can be physiological and psychological) on the drug.
Dangerous side effects such as convulsions can occur, but some of the more common withdrawal side effects include:
- confusion
- insomnia or ‘rebound insomnia - (lasts only a few nights)
- anxiety
- appetite changes and weight loss
- shaking
- sweating.
