How long should you use benzodiazepines to help with alcohol withdrawal? These medications are often used for AWS if you have liver damage (common for people who drink lots of alcohol), severe lung damage, or if you’re over the age of 65. Lorazepam and oxazepam are shorter-acting benzodiazepines, so they last for a shorter time in your body. They also don’t need to be taken as often as shorter-acting versions. They can be helpful for a smooth treatment course with a lower risk of the medication effect wearing off and withdrawal symptoms returning. The most commonly prescribed benzodiazepines for treating AWS are:Ĭhlordiazepoxide and diazepam are long-acting benzodiazepines, meaning they last for a longer time in your body. The benzodiazepines recommended to treat AWS are similarly effective at preventing withdrawal symptoms. Some benzodiazepines are more commonly used for treating AWS than others because there is more research to support that they are safe and effective. Which benzodiazepines are most effective for treating alcohol withdrawal? They are recommended as safe and effective medications for AWS. They are also more predictable than some alternative AWS treatments in how they work in your body. After you start a benzodiazepine for AWS, your dose may be slowly lowered over time to wean off the medication while still preventing withdrawal symptoms.īenzodiazepines, especially long-acting benzodiazepines, are the first-choice medications to use for AWS because they start working quickly and last a long time. This allows benzodiazepines to essentially replace the effects of alcohol in the brain and prevent withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol has an anti-anxiety effect on the brain, and benzodiazepines have a similar anti-anxiety effect. How do benzodiazepines treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms?īenzodiazepines treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms by imitating the effects of alcohol in the brain. Your healthcare provider will determine the best treatment for you. It’s not easy to predict who will have more severe withdrawal symptoms, so if you believe you or someone you know is experiencing AWS, seek medical care right away.
To avoid serious problems, you may also need treatment with medications like benzodiazepines. If you drink too much alcohol, you may have a risk of developing AWS if you stop drinking suddenly. Serious or life-threatening conditions, such as seizures or delirium tremens (shaking, shivering, sweating, and changes to your heart rate), can develop in some cases of AWS. Heavy drinking is defined as consuming 8 or more drinks per week for people assigned female at birth or consuming 15 or more drinks per week for people assigned male at birth. What is alcohol withdrawal syndrome?Īlcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a cluster of symptoms that happen when a person stops drinking alcohol after periods of long-term or heavy drinking. Because of how they work in the brain and nervous system, they can also be used to help manage alcohol withdrawal symptoms.īelow, we describe how benzodiazepines can help with alcohol withdrawal symptoms and what precautions to take while using them. Common examples of benzodiazepines include alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and clonazepam (Klonopin), but there are several other medications available within this class. However, there are medications available to help manage these symptoms and lower the risk of serious complications during withdrawals.īenzodiazepines are a class of medications that are most often used to treat anxiety conditions and short-term sleeping problems. Treating AUD can be difficult, as people with this condition can experience serious withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop drinking, especially if they’ve been drinking heavily for a long time. It’s estimated that over 76 million people around the world have alcohol use disorder (AUD).
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