Guest guest Posted January 21, 2003 Report Share Posted January 21, 2003 http://benzo.org.uk Benzodiazepine Symptoms List More Symptoms Lists 1. ACUTE 2. PROTRACTED 3. PARADOXICAL 4. TOLERANCE EFFECTS (including toxicity) 5. SIDE EFFECTS 6. CATEGORIES OF SYMPTOMS 1. ACUTE: - aggression - anxiety - agoraphobia - apathy - ataxia - breathlessness - chest discomfort and tightness - choking - constipation - convulsions (muscle usually) - dental pain - depersonalisation - depression - derealisation - diarrhoea - distortion of body image, misperceptions - dry, itchy skin - " electric shock " feelings throughout the body - dysphoria - excitability - fasciculations - flushing - formications - head sensations - heart palpitations - hyperacusis - hypersensitivity to stimuli - hyperosmia (sensitive sense of smell) - hyperpyrexia (overheating) - hyperventilation (overbreathing) - insomnia - intrusive thoughts - irrational rage - irritability - jumpiness - metallic taste - nausea - nightmares - obsessions - panic attacks - perceptual disturbances and distortions - photosensitivity - psychotic symptoms (usually transient and confined to rapid withdrawal) - restlessness - seizures (on abrupt discontinuation) - sensory disruption - scalp burning - sore tongue - sweating, night sweats - tinnitus - tremor - vomiting - weakness, " jelly legs " - weight gain - weight loss (this may be quite rapid) Cold Turkey Symptoms usually confined to 'cold turkey' or rapid withdrawal from high doses of benzodiazepines: - confusion - delirium - fits - hallucinations - psychotic symptoms - seizures 2. PROTRACTED: - abnormal muscle tone - anxiety - aching joints - ataxia - allergic reactions - back pain - blepharospasm (eye twitching) - breast pain - apathy - constipation (often alternating with diarrhoea) - cravings - dehydration - dental pain - depersonalisation - depression - derealisation - diarrhoea (often alternating with constipation) - dry, tickly cough - dysphagia - fluctuations in blood pressure - " electric shock " feelings throughout the body - fasciculations - formication (sensation of bugs crawling over skin) - gait disturbance (the ground seems to move underfoot) - gastritis - glassy eyes - hair loss - heartburn - heart palpitations - heavy flu-like symptoms - hyperacusis - hyperaesthesia (sensitivity to stimuli) - hyperosmia - insomnia - iris colour changes - kakosmia - joint pains - leukonychea (whitening of nails) - libidinal changes - malabsorption - menstrual irregularity - muscular cramps - muscular rigidity - muscular spasms - muscular (and bone) weakness - myoclonic convulsions (muscle/nerve spasms) - nausea - neurological problems (topical nerve anaesthesia) - nose bleeds - oedema (especially of ankles and face) - oesophagitis - paraesthesiae (numbing, burning and tingling; pins and needles) - poor concentration - poor short-term memory - perspiring, night sweats - severe headaches - sinusitis - skin insensitivity - sore, itchy eyes - spine (burning sensation) - stomach cramps - thirst - thrush-like symptoms - tremor - tinnitus (ear buzzing, popping, ringing, hissing) - tiny pupils - urinary problems (bladder either 'all on' or 'all off') - vertigo - visual disturbances (blurred, double, vivid) - vomiting - water retention 3. PARADOXICAL: - acute hyperexcited state - agitation - aggressive behaviour - anxiety - breathlessness - excitability - fear - hallucinations - hostility - hyperactivity - increased muscle spasticity - irrational rage - insomnia - nervousness - nightmares, vivid dreams - phobias - rage - restlessness - restless legs, arms - sleep disturbances - tension - tremor - panic attacks 4. TOLERANCE EFFECTS (including toxicity): - anxiety - apnea (night) - breathlessness - dyspnea (breathing problems) - fibrositis - fatigue - gait disturbance - impotence - leaden heaviness - lethargy - libido disturbances - loss of self-confidence - menstrual irregularity - neurological problems - panic attacks - phobias - severe muscle rigidity - short-term memory impairment - vasovagal attacks - vertigo 5. SIDE EFFECTS: - abnormal behaviour or false beliefs - aches and pains (muscle tension) - aggressiveness - agitation - agoraphobia and claustrophobia - anger - anti-social behaviour - apathy - ataxia - blood disorders (resulting in severe tiredness and possible infections) - blurred vision - bradycardia (slow heartbeat/pulse) - breast enlargement - changes in appetite - changes in libido - changes in salivation - chemical sensitivities, allergies - cognitive impairment - confusion - daytime drowsiness - depression - diarrhoea and constipation - diplopia - dizziness - dry, itchy skin - dysarthria - dysphoria - emotional blunting - exhaustion - fatigue - feeling afraid - feeling unreal - feelings of anger and anxiety - flu-like symptoms - hair loss - hallucinations - headaches - hypotension - IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) - inability to pass urine/holding of urine in the bladder - impairment of motor co-ordination - incontinence - insomnia - irritability - jaundice - jaw pains - lack of concentration - lack of confidence - lethargy - many people wonder why they have changed from being happy and outgoing, to being over-anxious and unconfident - memory loss or forgetfulness - mild hypertension - muscle weakness, spasticity, cramps, abnormal tone - nausea - nightmares - numbed emotions - oedema - panic attacks - personality changes - poor muscle control - problems with vision - psychomotor impairment - rashes - reduced alertness - reduced blood pressure - restlessness - shivering - skin problems, rashes - sleep problems - slurred speech - stomach and bowel problems - stomach upsets - suicidal behaviour - thyroid disturbances - tolerance - tremor - urinary retention - vertigo - violence - water retention - weight gain - xeroderma (dry skin) 6. CATEGORIES OF SYMPTOMS: CARDIOVASCULAR: Fluctuations in blood pressure Mild hypertension Shivering, feelings of extreme cold or hot Heart palpitations DERMATOLOGICAL: Allergic reactions Chemical sensitivities Dry, itchy skin Dry throat, sore tongue, and thrush Formications (sensation of crawling on skin) Glassy eyes Hair loss Leukonychea (whitening of nails) Nosebleeds Oedema Paraesthesiae (numbness, tingling) Perspiring, night sweats Rashes, blotches GASTROINTESTINAL: Bladder incontinence Constipation (sometimes alternating with diarrhoea) Diarrhoea Dyspepsia (indigestion) Gastritis Heartburn Nausea Oesophagitis Stomach cramps GENITOURINARY: Impotence Libido disturbances Menstrual irregularities urinary problems (continence or incontinence) Encopressia (faecal incontinence) MUSCULOSKELETAL: Aching joints Blepharospasm (eye twitches) Formication (sensations of bugs crawling on skin) Gait disturbance Jaw, tooth, neck and shoulder pain Muscle wasting Muscle spasms Rapid weight loss Severe headaches Severe muscle rigidity Tremor or feeling of inner vibration Vertigo NEUROLOGICAL: Blurred vision, seeing spots, flashes, vivid vision Bruxism (teeth grinding) Dysphagia (difficulty eating or swallowing) Electric shock feelings Fatigue, leaden heaviness Hypersensitivity to light, sound, and other stimuli Neurological problems (e.g. topical anaesthesia) Severe muscle rigidity Speech difficulty Thirst Tinnitus (ear buzzing, popping, ringing, hissing) Tiny pupils Tremor PARADOXICAL: Agitation Aggressive behaviour anxiety Breathlessness Excitability Fear Hostility Hyperactivity Irrational rage Insomnia Nervousness Nightmares, vivid dreams Phobias Restlessness PSYCHIATRIC: Apathy Anxiety Delirium Depersonalisation Depression Derealisation Distortions or hallucinations Dysphoria (inability to feel pleasure or happiness) Fear Hyperventilation Hyperreflexia (‘jumpiness’) Hypnologic hallucinations sleepwalking) Lack of concentration Nightmares Obsessions Paranoia Phobias (hydrophobia, agoraphobia, monophobia, acrophobia, anthropophobia and others) Rapid mood changes Suicidal thoughts Short-term memory impairment RESPIRATORY: Breathlessness Choking Dry, tickly cough Dyspnea (breathing difficulty) Hyperventilation (overbreathing) Inability to draw satisfying breath Night apnea Sinusitis These lists are pretty comprehensive and include symptoms reported by members of the Benzo Group. It is mercifully unlikely that any one person will experience all the symptoms recorded here. They are given purely for reference purposes. Note: It is difficult to determine exactly which symptoms are acute and which are protracted. Everyone's experience is clearly different. Ray Nimmo, Irene Mazis and others from the Benzo Group · July 2000. Gettingwell- / Vitamins, Herbs, Aminos, etc. To , e-mail to: Gettingwell- Or, go to our group site: Gettingwell Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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