Sleeping pills and minor tranquillisers

Explains what sleeping pills and minor tranquillisers are used for, how the medication works, possible side effects and information about withdrawal.

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What withdrawal problems can benzodiazepines cause?

If you take benzodiazepines as recommended, and take them as a one-off dose, you would not normally have any problems in stopping them.

But if you have taken benzodiazepines regularly over a long period of time, you could become physically addicted or psychologically dependent on them. For example, you may experience physical withdrawal symptoms if you stop or reduce your dose, or you may feel that you cannot cope with your day-to-day life unless you take them.

The longer you stay on benzodiazepines, the more likely it is that you will find it difficult to stop taking them and the greater your risk of withdrawal symptoms.

Short-acting benzodiazepines (which are most likely to be taken as sleeping pills) can be particularly difficult to come off if you have been taking them for a long time.

If you want to stop taking benzodiazepines, it's important to reduce the dose gradually, and to get as much information and support as possible. You are more likely to experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop or reduce your dose suddenly. (For more information, see Coming off psychiatric drugs).

"Eventually my doctor weaned me off it, very slowly, over months. Which was hard, as I really liked being on it. But I knew it was the right thing to do."

Possible withdrawal symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms can occur several hours after taking a short-acting benzodiazepine, and up to three weeks after taking a long-acting benzodiazepine. If you have taken benzodiazepines for a long time, symptoms can last for weeks or months.

Withdrawal symptoms may include:

abdominal cramps
agoraphobia (fear of crowded places)
increased anxiety
physical symptoms of anxiety (muscle tension, tight chest, palpitations, fast heartbeat, sweating, trembling or shaking)
blurred vision
depression
difficulty sleeping
dizziness
face and neck pain
headaches
inability to concentrate
increased sensitivity to light, noise, touch and smell
loss of interest in sex
loss of appetite
nausea (feeling sick)
nightmares
panic attacks
restlessness
sore eyes
sore tongue and metallic taste
tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
tingling in the hands and feet
unsteady legs
vomiting (being sick)
weight loss.

Severe withdrawal symptoms can include:

burning sensations in the skin
confusion
depression (severe)
depersonalisation (feeling detached from your surroundings)
derealisation (feeling out of touch with reality)
hallucinations
memory loss
muscle twitching
paranoia and delusions (strongly held beliefs that other people don't share)
seizures (fits).

Broken sleep with vivid dreams may continue for a while after you have come off the drug.

If you withdraw from benzodiazepines suddenly, this can cause serious symptoms including:

confusion
psychosis (symptoms such as seeing or hearing things that others don't)
seizures (fits)
a condition resembling delirium tremens (caused by alcohol withdrawal) with symptoms including a rapid heartbeat, sweating, high blood pressure, tremor (shaking), hallucinations and agitated behaviour.

Antidepressants and benzodiazepine withdrawal

Many people become depressed after coming off benzodiazepines, and your GP may offer you antidepressants to help you deal with this. If you are considering this, make sure you are aware of all the possible benefits and side effects before taking them, and discuss any concerns you have with your doctor.

Some research suggests that SSRI antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are not effective for treating depression that happens after benzodiazepine withdrawal. See our antidepressants section for further information.