In my years as an addiction specialist, I’ve witnessed countless patients battle substance dependencies. Yet few journeys are as misunderstood and treacherous as withdrawing from benzodiazepines like Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, and Valium. A recent Wall Street Journal investigation by Shalini Ramachandran and Betsy McKay reveals the devastating reality many patients face when trying to discontinue these medications. Their reporting sheds light on what many clinicians like myself have observed: benzodiazepine withdrawal can be an extraordinarily difficult process that transforms lives in unexpected ways. America’s Wonder Drug and Its Shadow Benzodiazepines were once hailed as miracle medications. In 2023 alone, approximately 24 million Americans took these drugs, with over 86 million prescriptions written. They’ve become deeply embedded in our culture as quick solutions for anxiety and insomnia. Yet as the WSJ reports, a concerning pattern has emerged. Even patients who take these medications exactly as prescribed can develop physical dependencies that make discontinuation excruciating. Dana Bare’s story exemplifies this struggle. Initially prescribed Xanax for mild insomnia, she later experienced debilitating symptoms when trying to stop: “brain zaps” like electric shocks, extreme skin sensitivity, and panic attacks so severe she would sometimes pass out from pain. The Complex Process of Tapering What […]
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