ArticleTherapeutic advances in psychopharmacology2022
Experiences with benzodiazepine use, tapering, and discontinuation: an Internet survey.
Article in Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering: Considerations When Risks Outweigh Benefits.Journal of general internal medicine · 2025Guideline
- Perceived Pain Following Hypnotic Deprescribing in Older Adults.Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · 2026Trial
- Cariprazine-induced obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a patient with bipolar II disorder: A case report.Biomedical reports · 2026Article
- Utilization of adjunctive anti-seizure medications to facilitate chronic benzodiazepine discontinuation.The mental health clinician · 2026Review
- Synergistic Effect ofPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Benefits and Liabilities of Benzodiazepines and Z-Drugs: What We Know and What We Don't Know.Drugs · 2026Review
- Investigating the dose-response relationship between music and anxiety reduction: A randomized clinical trial.PLOS mental health · 2026Article
- Benzodiazepine receptor agonist deprescribing principles for long-term use and dependence: modified Delphi recommendations from a multi-disciplinary expert panel.Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology · 2026Article
- Benzodiazepine (BZD) Use and Patient Safety: Opportunities for Community Pharmacy Involvement in the Management of Drug Interactions.Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- The Efficacy of Melatonergic Receptor Agonists Used in Clinical Practice in Insomnia Treatment: Melatonin, Tasimelteon, Ramelteon, Agomelatine, and Selected Herbs.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Experiences of long-term benzodiazepine use and addiction amid changes in guidelines for the prescription of narcotic drugs: a qualitative study.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Completion in Benzodiazepine Users: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence.Cureus · 2025Review
- Challenges of benzodiazepine deprescribing in elderly patients attending primary healthcare.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Article
- Long-term neurological consequences following benzodiazepine exposure: A scoping review.PloS one · 2025Article
- 'I haven't discussed anything with anyone': lived experience of long-term users of benzodiazepine receptor agonists regarding their treatment for substance use disorder.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2024Article
- 'We need more support and doctors that understand the process of tapering …': A content analysis of free-text responses to a questionnaire on discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine receptor agonist use.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2024Article
- Article
- Patient values and preferences regarding communicating risk versus benefit of benzodiazepine initiation: A cross-sectional survey study.Health science reports · 2023Article
- Intravenous ketamine for benzodiazepine deprescription and withdrawal management in treatment-resistant depression: a preliminary report.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2023Article
- Iatrogenic Side Effects of Pain Therapies.Cureus · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Over 92 million prescriptions for benzodiazepines are dispensed in the United States annually, yet little is known about the experiences of those taking and discontinuing them. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the experiences of those taking, tapering, or having discontinued benzodiazepines. Methods: An online survey ( Results: Symptoms associated with benzodiazepine use, tapering, and discontinuation were numerous and ranged from symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, and nervousness to digestive problems, irregular heart rhythms, uncontrollable anger, photosensitivity, balance problems, and others. When asked how benzodiazepine symptoms affected their lives, 82.9% reported work problems, 86.3% had problems with social interactions and friendships, and 88.8% had problems with fun, recreation, and hobbies. Suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide was reported by 54.4%, and 46.8% said benzodiazepines caused lost employment. Most of the respondents for whom benzodiazepines were prescribed (76.2%) stated they had not been informed that benzodiazepines were indicated for short-term use only and that discontinuation might be difficult. About a third (31.5%) reported food allergies and/or seasonal allergies that occurred only after benzodiazepine use. Conclusion: The trajectory of those who taper or discontinue benzodiazepines is unpredictable, and many patients experience a range of protracted and severe symptoms, even years after benzodiazepines were completely discontinued. Greater awareness is needed for both prescribers and patients about the potential for a difficult withdrawal from benzodiazepines.
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