How to Quit Tranquillizers

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HOW TO QUIT TRANQUILLISERS

 

If you take anti-anxiety drugs, you have a lot of company. In Britain, more than

5 million prescriptions for benzodiazepines such as Valium are written out every

year, while almost 4 million Americans take them every day, often for years.

Two-thirds of benzodiazepine prescriptions are written by family practitioners,

and the remainder by psychiatrists.

 

Research in the late 1970s and early 1980s showed that when taken at the usually

prescribed doses, dependence on them can occur after only one to two weeks.1

With the increasing recognition of widespread abuse and dependency problems, the

number of prescriptions for benzodiazepines in the US gradually dropped from a

high of 87 million in 1973 to 55 million in 1981.

 

This dip, however, was temporary, as a phenomenally aggressive marketing

campaign for the introduction of Xanax in the late 1980s reversed the slide in

popularity. With this new drug leading the way, prescriptions of all

psychoactive medications, including benzodiazepines, again begin to climb. Were

people actually becoming more depressed and anxious, or were the drugs companies

simply doing a better job of selling?

 

While the former could be true, what's now certain is that the companies were,

in fact, becoming more aggressive and persuasive in marketing these drugs.2 (For

an excellent examination of these issues, see Edward Drummond's book Overcoming

Anxiety without Tranquillisers.)

 

As addictive as heroin

 

Although benzodiazepines suppress the symptoms of anxiety for a few hours, they

do not treat underlying causes, and the anxiety returns as soon as the drug

wears off. Moreover, there is a 'rebound effect' where the individual

experiences even worse symptoms than they started with as a result of chemical

dependency.

 

Often, the person develops tolerance, meaning that even higher doses are needed

for the same anti-anxiety effect. These factors – withdrawal and tolerance –

describe an addiction that can be as difficult as heroin to break. A combination

of physical and emotional dependency develops, and protection is not afforded by

limiting to 'occasional' use. Ignoring the warning that they are meant to be

taken for only weeks at a time, overburdened doctors may continue to renew a

prescription for many months or even years.

 

Consider Jan's story:

 

A 32-year-old secretary for an insurance company, Jan had been in a car accident

two years before visiting Hyla Cass (a psychiatrist using nutritional therapy).

Another car had hit her from behind with some force. She sustained a variety of

injuries, including a shattered kneecap and whiplash, which left her with

headaches and neck pain. The accident jarred her emotionally as well. During her

week-long hospital stay, she was given Valium as a muscle relaxant and

anti-anxiety agent, and Restoril for sleep. The Restoril was understandable, as

sleeping in a hospital can be difficult. In time, her injuries healed, but she

was left with intermittent neck pain, relieved to some degree by Valium.

 

Jan was unable to end her dependence on Valium and Restoril. Her attempts to

discontinue the medications were met with unbearable insomnia, followed by

fatigue and an inability to function. She was hooked, and her doctor continued

to renew her prescriptions. She noticed herself becoming absent-minded, not

remembering where she had put things in the house, forgetting appointments, and

becoming increasingly tired and depressed. She had long since quit her job,

unable to cope with any additional responsibilities. Life was bleak, and since

the accident, she had a lingering fear of driving. She spent more and more time

at home, doing less and less. Her concerned husband brought her to see a

psychiatrist, who prescribed an antidepressant. But this had little effect.

 

 

 

Jan was experiencing just about every side-effect of the benzodiazepines: poor

memory, confusion, depression, lack of coordination and drowsiness. This daytime

sedation and mental confusion can, like alcohol ingestion, lead to traffic

accidents.3 Another problem is 'ataxia', a loss of balance – especially

problematic when it occurs in the elderly – which can lead to falls and hip

fractures.4

 

As Jan discovered , the chronic use of benzodiazepine can actually increase

anxiety and depression. This can lead to a narrowing of focus and even total

withdrawal and isolation. This may be a slow, insidious process, and, like Jane,

you may not think to attribute it to the use of the drug. The resulting

depression is often treated with more antidepressants, rather than eliminating

the source of the problem by stopping the benzodiazepine itself. This locks you

in to a vicious cycle, from which you may feel there's no escape.

 

Minimising withdrawal symptoms with natural remedies

Coming off benzodiazepines has its own hazards. There are several withdrawal

effects including insomnia, anxiety, irritability, sweating, blurred vision,

diarrhoea, tremors, mental impairment and headaches. Abrupt withdrawal from high

doses can lead to seizures or even death.

 

Fortunately, a gradual programme of withdrawal coupled with natural remedies

like kava and valerian can ease and shorten the transition phase.

 

Besides much-needed psychotherapy, Jan was prescribed the herbs kava and

valerian. This not only helped her with anxiety and insomnia, but relieved her

lingering neck pain as well. A few visits to a chiropractor completed her

recovery. Before long, Jan was able to return to work, at a better job, and her

husband thanked me for 'giving me my wife back!'.

 

Never go it alone

Your ideal withdrawal programme has to be tailored to your circumstances – the

amount of the drug taken, length of use, and your unique physiology. It takes

months to get off these drugs completely, and professional support and guidance

are essential.

 

As we've said, valerian is a great help in the process of withdrawal. A GABA

enhancer, it will have similar actions to the drug, but is much gentler and

doesn't have the same addictive potential. The same is true for kava.

 

The idea is you gradually reduce the tranquilliser dose while increasing

valerian, but it's best to seek professional health from a qualified

nutritionist while doing this.

 

A word of caution – since benzodiazepines and valerian both enhance GABA, the

combination of the herb with tranquilliser drugs can make the drugs' effects

more potent.

 

For this reason, valerian should be viewed in the same way as any medicine, and

taken in carefully scheduled doses as part of the medically supervised

withdrawal programme. In other words, you should not just add them in yourself.

 

It is also helpful to add supplements that support the liver's ability to

detoxify these drugs, such as milk thistle (Silymarin silibum), a

liver-enhancing herb that helps to speed up the metabolism of tranquillisers.

 

Generally, as we decrease the tranquilliser dose, we gradually increase the

amount of valerian, replacing the drug with the herb.

 

Since valerian is not addictive and does not build tolerance, the person doesn't

have to be weaned off it later.

 

The dose range for valerian is 50 to 100mg two to three times daily. You also

need 60mg of milk thistle twice a day to help along the detoxification process.

 

To sum up, here are some practical steps to take to break addiction to

tranquillisers and minimise symptoms of withdrawal:

 

Get professional support and guidance.

Deal with psychological issues with the guidance of a psychotherapist.

Start with milk thistle to support the liver, then gradually reduce the

tranquilliser dose, under professional guidance, and replace with valerian.

When withdrawal symptoms are gone, reduce the dose of valerian.

 

Eat an optimum diet – with adequate protein, nutrient-rich wholegrains, organic

fruit and vegetables and a good intake of essential fats (omega 3 and 6)

www.udoerasmus.com

backed up with a high-quality multivitamin and mineral

 

 

Useful Organisations

 

Counselling for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction (CITA) offers support,

information and advice for those who are suffering from withdrawal or wish to

help, and gives advice to health professionals to help people through

withdrawal. Contact CITA at Cavendish House, Brighton Road, Waterloo, Liverpool

L22 5NG, call their National Telephone Helpline on 0151 932 0102, or visit

www.liv.ac.uk/~csunit/community/cita.htm

 

Narcotics Anonymous is a non- profit society of recovering addicts who meet

regularly to help each other stay clean. Recovery in NA focuses on the problem

of addiction, rather than on any particular drug, using the same 12 step

programme as Alcoholics Anonymous. Membership is not limited to addicts who use

one drug or another.Those who feel they may have a problem with any drugs-legal

or illegal, including alcohol are welcome in Narcotics Anonymous. They have

groups all over the UK, plus a national helpline on 020 7730 0009;or visit

www.ukna.org

 

http://www.mentalhealthproject.com/default.asp

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

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DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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