Important Notice

Unless stated otherwise, this article applies to both benzodiazepines and z-drugs due to their similar effects.

Overview
 

• Consult Your Doctor: Always discuss your plans to discontinue or adjust your dosage of benzodiazepines (or any other medication) with your healthcare provider beforehand.
   
• Short-Term Use: Typically refers to a duration of days or a few weeks.
   
• Long-Term Use: Generally indicates several months of usage or longer, without a distinct cutoff point.
   
• Tapering After Short-Term Use: If you have not experienced withdrawal issues, a taper lasting a few days or weeks is usually sufficient.
• Gradual Dose Reductions: Smaller, more frequent reductions in dosage are typically better tolerated than larger, less frequent cuts, even with the same overall tapering rate.
   
• Intermittent Use: If you have taken benzodiazepines intermittently over an extended period (less than daily), a shorter tapering plan may still be appropriate.
   
• Supportive Medications: Non-GABAergic medications may help manage withdrawal symptoms, as well as therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness techniques, and talk therapy.
   
• Abrupt Withdrawal: Should only be considered after short-term use and moderate doses, and only if you do not have a seizure disorder.
   
• Seizure Disorder Consideration: If you have a seizure disorder, discuss any plans to discontinue benzodiazepines with a neurologist prior to taking action.
  
   

Following prolonged use or a previous history of challenges with benzodiazepine withdrawal, it is common to gradually taper off the medication over several weeks or months. In some cases, the withdrawal process may even take a year or longer to complete.