Long-term use is sometimes described as use not shorter than three months. Benzodiazepines are generally effective when used therapeutically in the short term, but even then the risk of dependency can be significantly high.
You should only be prescribed benzodiazepines for the shortest amount of time possible. Taking benzodiazepines regularly for a few weeks or more can lead to addiction. Doctors recommend that you only take them for 2-4 weeks. Intermittent use may help to avoid addiction.
Klonopin should not be relied on for prolonged periods of time, and it is safest when used for short durations of time – less than two weeks. If people have been using or abusing the drug for longer and exhibit some of the symptoms of addiction, they are probably dependent on it.
You'll usually take diazepam for no longer than 2 to 4 weeks. If you're prescribed diazepam for more than 4 weeks, your dose may be reduced gradually when you stop taking it to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Long-acting benzodiazepines have a longer half-life. This means that the drugs are processed by your body more slowly and take longer to leave the body. You are more likely to experience a 'hangover' effect when taking these drugs. But you are less likely to have withdrawal problems.
As mentioned before, benzodiazepines are not meant to be used for long periods of time. By using benzodiazepines for an extended time, there is an increased risk of the development of certain health conditions. The amount of time considered “long-term” in regard to benzodiazepine abuse is around three to six months.
When benzodiazepine users cease long-term benzodiazepine therapy, their cognitive function improves in the first six months, although deficits may be permanent or take longer than six months to return to baseline.
Long-term use of diazepam can lead to chemical dependency and, eventually, to severe addiction. Understanding the health complications of Valium addiction may encourage nonmedical users of this drug to reach out for help.
Diazepam can be helpful when used as directed, but it can also result in adverse effects, including dependence, withdrawal symptoms, overdose, and addiction.
Dosage for tablets and liquid
The usual dose is: anxiety – 2mg, taken 3 times a day, this can be increased to 5mg to 10mg, taken 3 times a day. sleep problems (related to anxiety) – 5mg to 15mg, taken once a day at bedtime. muscle spasms in adults – 2mg to 15 mg a day.
Clonazepam is not generally recommended for long-term use because it is known to be a habit-forming substance. Over time, the patient's body tends to build a tolerance to clonazepam.
Clonazepam is not likely to be addictive if you take it for a short time (2 to 4 weeks). If you take clonazepam for more than 2 to 4 weeks, your dose will need to be reduced gradually before you stop taking it. Do not drink alcohol while taking clonazepam.
The risk of overdose is particularly great when combined with sedative drugs such as opioids or alcohol. For these reasons, if used, benzodiazepines generally should not be prescribed continuously for more than one month.
SSRIs and SNRIs are often the first-line treatment for anxiety. Common SSRI brands are Celexa, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, and Zoloft. Common SNRI brands are Pristiq, Cymbalta, and Effexor XR. Pros: They are effective for a lot of people and they have a solid safety profile.
In conclusion, tolerance develops relatively quickly for the sedative, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant actions of benzodiazepines.
Valium is not FDA–approved for long-term anxiety treatment or for the treatment of less severe anxiety symptoms that are associated with everyday life. It is only meant as a temporary treatment option for those who have moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety.
Adults—2 to 10 milligrams (mg) 2 to 4 times a day. Older adults—At first, 2 to 2.5 mg 1 or 2 times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
After oral administration >90% of diazepam is absorbed and the average time to achieve peak plasma concentrations is 1 – 1.5 hours with a range of 0.25 to 2.5 hours.
It helps keep the nerve activity in the brain in balance, and is involved in reducing anxiety, relaxing muscles and inducing sleepiness. By increasing the activity of GABA in the brain, diazepam increases these calming effects.
Examples of SSRIs that are commonly used to treat chronic anxiety include citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft).
The number of GABA receptors is slowly restored in response to benzodiazepine cessation or dose reduction. The rate of withdrawal of treatment needs to allow time for GABA receptors to regenerate if withdrawal symptoms are to be minimized.” The brain heals and rebalances, but it takes time.
Clinical experience (2) as well as a retrospective meta-analysis (3) suggest that any related memory impairment is primarily recent recall and is often mild and largely reversible when benzodiazepines are discontinued (4).
Chronic use of benzodiazepines can lead to tolerance and chronic withdrawal symptoms that can last for months when the medication is discontinued. Even when patients want to address their addiction, significant treatment obstacles exist.
Addiction treatment is typically considered “long-term” if it lasts more than 120 days. Most long-term programs consist of a planned stay of six to 12 months.