In the following video (1:42), prescribed benzodiazepine activist Jim shares his story and discusses some of the quite serious complicatons he encountered with benzodiazepines:
Complications
- Dependence
- Tolerance
- Interdose Withdrawal (this goes hand-in-hand with tolerance)
- Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome (BWS)
- Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome (PWS)
- Paradoxical Reactions
- Functional Brain Changes
- Losses Due to Benzodiazepine Associated Illness
- Akathisia
- Kindling
Benzodiazepines and Specific Populations
Benzodiazepines should be approached with extreme caution in these specific patient populations, who are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects. *Note: this is an incomplete list.