Controversy
Detox facilities may be inappropriate for those who have become tolerant while taking the drug as prescribed, as opposed to recreational use. Such inpatient referrals may be traumatic for non-abusers. Because a rapid discontinuation may produce prolonged and severe withdrawal symptoms, and may predispose for a protracted syndrome, they are generally not recommended.
Case studies
After only eight to 9 weeks of alprazolam (Xanax) taken at a fixed, prescribed dose, the following symptoms have been found to occur during abrupt discontinuation: dysphoria, fatigue, low energy, confusion, elevated systolic blood pressure, and severe anxiety.
One case of incorrect equivalent dose switching is of a man who had been taking doses of lorazepam and alprazolam equivalent of 60 mg of diazepam. He was then switched from the lorazepam and alprazolam to only 7 mg of diazepam per day. Within 36 hours, he developed somatic symptoms and became convinced that he had an underlying pathology, and impulsively attempted suicide. His symptoms and suicide attempt were diagnosed as benzodiazepine withdrawal. He then tried withdraw from benzodiazepines, but did so too rapidly with erratic dosage reductions and again attempted suicide which resulted in admittance to a psychiatric unit. The author warned that self-harm can be a feature of benzodiazepine withdrawal.
Read more about this topic: Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome
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