Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
Benzodiazepines are used for lessening anxiety, and promoting sleep. When used for long periods of time however, they will often cause more side-effects and other problems than they were meant to address, including pronounced medication withdrawal symptoms.
In most instances of chronic anxiety, we find that the person has accumulated neurotoxins including heavy metals that are over-stimulating their nervous system. This is what may have led to the initial use of the medication. Withdrawal from these medications can present with extreme anxiety, protracted withdrawal symptoms, and even seizures. This is the most common class of medications we address, as unsupported withdrawal can be virtually impossible. Our methods are diverse on this particular class of medication, but include careful taper techniques, removal of neurotoxins that have accumulated in the persons system due to the drug and from environmental sources, neurochemical support using natural substances, peer support, and the benefit of many therapies designed to promote relaxation including massage, acupuncture, meditation and sauna.
Why does a person experience Benzodiazepine withdrawal?
To understand why withdrawal can be so painful, we need to look a few factors: The underlying cause of the anxiety- toxins, neurotoxins, can accumulate in a person’s system over a lifetime. They can produce the effect of an over-stimulated nervous system. An example would be pesticides. A pesticide designed to kill an insect, like a grasshopper, works in the following way: The toxin absorbed through the exoskeleton, and finds its way to the nervous system. The pesticide causes the acetylcholine channels of the nervous system to remain open, and does not allow these channels to close. Acetylcholine is a stimulating neurotransmitter that will cause the grasshopper to jump. Constant unregulated influx of acetylcholine puts the insect into catatonia and then death. This is how the pesticide kills the pest. Accumulation of this toxin in us acts similarly as our nervous system also uses acetylcholine for stimulation. Other toxins including heavy metals, aspartame, MSG mycotoxins from molds and literally thousands of chemicals in hygiene products and processed foods have similar effects. Add to that the increasingly demanding workspace, foundering marriage or other external stressor, and it can be too much. This is where a person is likely at prior to being medicated. These toxins also greatly impact endocrine gland function and can result in hormone imbalances, adrenal burnout and cortisol elevation. These toxins cab be safely removed, which is discussed in the neurotoxin removal link.
What the medication does.
The benzodiazepine makes the nerve synapse more permeable to GABA, and less permeable to Calcium. GABA is the body’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter. GABA dampens the intensity of a nerve impulse. Using a benzodiazepine causes the body to spend the available GABA, and when GABA is gone, everything becomes over-stimulating. Taking GABA as a supplement is usually ineffective as the toxicity often impairs its utilization.
Acute withdrawal
Acute withdrawal is similar to a hangover, yet much worse. Withdrawal is an acute inability for the body to dampen nerve impulses, and every noise, sight, and sensation can be tortuous. The drug has used up all the GABA, and when there is none left, the body cannot regulate stimulation. To navigate this area, one must choose a careful and slow withdrawal that their body can handle. Also, the sudden influx of Calcium can result in increased muscle contraction, and even seizure.
Protracted withdrawal
Protracted withdrawal is classically blamed on the drug still leaving the system, or damaged receptors. What they are likely experiencing is the same chemical toxicity that may have led to the use of the medication initially, and now additionally damaged receptors and drug resides. The residual neurotoxins may still be acting as excito-toxins in the person’s neurology. They will continue to do so until they are removed. An example of what chemical toxicity does would be smelling salts (Ammonium Nitrate). When a person inhales Ammonium Nitrate, even if unconscious, they will get up and run out of the room. The Ammonium Nitrate triggers chemoreceptors in the brain stem to excite another area of the brain called the locus cerrulens. The locus cerrulens is an area of the brain that releases Norepinephrine. The sudden surge of Norepinephrine is what causes the person to regain consciousness and find the strength to evacuate to area. This is a protective mechanism. Low-grade accumulated toxicity excites these chemoreceptors in similar way, and it is this toxicity that is implicated in protracted withdrawal and ongoing low-grade, constant anxiety. Our methods remove this cause so that a person may be able to remain off the drug without continued symptoms. Learn more about the neurotoxin removal process.
Why does a person experience Benzodiazepine withdrawal?
To understand why withdrawal can be so painful, we need to look a few factors: The underlying cause of the anxiety- toxins, neurotoxins, can accumulate in a person’s system over a lifetime. They can produce the effect of an over-stimulated nervous system. An example would be pesticides. A pesticide designed to kill an insect, like a grasshopper, works in the following way: The toxin absorbed through the exoskeleton, and finds its way to the nervous system. The pesticide causes the acetylcholine channels of the nervous system to remain open, and does not allow these channels to close. Acetylcholine is a stimulating neurotransmitter that will cause the grasshopper to jump. Constant unregulated influx of acetylcholine puts the insect into catatonia and then death. This is how the pesticide kills the pest. Accumulation of this toxin in us acts similarly as our nervous system also uses acetylcholine for stimulation. Other toxins including heavy metals, aspartame, MSG mycotoxins from molds and literally thousands of chemicals in hygiene products and processed foods have similar effects. Add to that the increasingly demanding workspace, foundering marriage or other external stressor, and it can be too much. This is where a person is likely at prior to being medicated. These toxins also greatly impact endocrine gland function and can result in hormone imbalances, adrenal burnout and cortisol elevation. These toxins cab be safely removed, which is discussed in the neurotoxin removal link.
What the medication does.
The benzodiazepine makes the nerve synapse more permeable to GABA, and less permeable to Calcium. GABA is the body’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter. GABA dampens the intensity of a nerve impulse. Using a benzodiazepine causes the body to spend the available GABA, and when GABA is gone, everything becomes over-stimulating. Taking GABA as a supplement is usually ineffective as the toxicity often impairs its utilization.
Acute withdrawal
Acute withdrawal is similar to a hangover, yet much worse. Withdrawal is an acute inability for the body to dampen nerve impulses, and every noise, sight, and sensation can be tortuous. The drug has used up all the GABA, and when there is none left, the body cannot regulate stimulation. To navigate this area, one must choose a careful and slow withdrawal that their body can handle. Also, the sudden influx of Calcium can result in increased muscle contraction, and even seizure.
Protracted withdrawal
Protracted withdrawal is classically blamed on the drug still leaving the system, or damaged receptors. What they are likely experiencing is the same chemical toxicity that may have led to the use of the medication initially, and now additionally damaged receptors and drug resides. The residual neurotoxins may still be acting as excito-toxins in the person’s neurology. They will continue to do so until they are removed. An example of what chemical toxicity does would be smelling salts (Ammonium Nitrate). When a person inhales Ammonium Nitrate, even if unconscious, they will get up and run out of the room. The Ammonium Nitrate triggers chemoreceptors in the brain stem to excite another area of the brain called the locus cerrulens. The locus cerrulens is an area of the brain that releases Norepinephrine. The sudden surge of Norepinephrine is what causes the person to regain consciousness and find the strength to evacuate to area. This is a protective mechanism. Low-grade accumulated toxicity excites these chemoreceptors in similar way, and it is this toxicity that is implicated in protracted withdrawal and ongoing low-grade, constant anxiety. Our methods remove this cause so that a person may be able to remain off the drug without continued symptoms. Learn more about the neurotoxin removal process.
