Can Your Brain Heal From Long Term Benzodiazepine Use?

Dr. Peter Coleman, who is Board-certified in Addiction Medicine and has been in recovery from opioid use himself since 1984, discusses whether someone's brain can fully heal from years of benzodiazepine use. This is a question we often see from subscribers to our TikTok and YouTube channels.

-Safe, Comfortable Outpatient Detox
The Coleman Institute for Addiction Medicine has been a leading outpatient addiction treatment center since 1998. Our innovative withdrawal management programs, often referred to as The Coleman Method, have helped thousands of people free themselves from addiction to Alcohol, Opioids, and Benzodiazepines. Originally founded in Richmond, Virginia, our network has expanded to cover 14 cities across the US.
-3 - 8 Day Opioid Detoxification Process
For short-acting opiates like oxycodone, most patients complete their detox and begin Naltrexone therapy within 5 days. Longer-acting opiates like Suboxone and Methadone typically take 8 days. Our standard opioid treatment package in Richmond, VA, Wellesley, MA (Boston area) and Willoughby, OH (Cleveland area) includes the detox and 6 months of case management and Naltrexone therapy. As a non-addictive opioid blocker, Naltrexone dramatically reduces cravings so that patients can focus on their recovery. We have a 98% success rate for completing detoxification and starting Naltrexone therapy. During the detox, we work with patients and their families to develop an appropriate aftercare plan. We also offer a convenient, 3-day outpatient alcohol detox and a Rapid Benzodiazepine Detox.
-Caring, Empathetic Environment
Dr. Peter Coleman understands first-hand the challenges our patients are facing due to his own personal struggle with the disease of addiction. He has been in long term recovery since 1984. Dr. Coleman has dedicated his career to treating addiction patients and creating a team and an environment conducive to long term recovery for his patients.

[PolarPT]

7 months clean of benzo’s after years of prescribed every day, twice a day, use.
If you are reading this and just recently stopped taking your benzo - I/WE know how you feel. I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that life is great even 7 months down the line, but I will truthfully tell you it is immensely better than what you are currently going through. I know normal people tell you to hang in there etc.. and they just can’t comprehend how you feel or thin. But I do comprehend it. And when I say it does it get better, you should believe it. The WDs are by far the most gruesome, painful days I’ve ever experienced. Army vet etc.. nothing compares to benzo WD. You are enough and you will get better. I struggle every day but I also progress every day. One day, we will all be back to who we used to be, even if it seems so far away. Cause damn, it does still for me by a million. But my 1 ounce of determination/motivation I didn’t have 7 months ago is vaguely in my being somewhere. Pushing me slowly every day. I’m a realist and I’m the realest. So are you. Love you all.

[Davesboxingchat]

Currently in withdrawal from a mammoth dosage and taper...3 weeks since my last one. Currently right in the middle of HELL on earth....can't hold a thought, a memory, permanent flight or fight, panic attacks, lack of sleep and complete lack of appetite. Thank god for my dogs or I think I wouldn't have even made it this far. 💯 anyone else that this resonates with...you aren't alone if that helps anybody!

[Skoopyghost]

I had alcohol, weed(many other substances I don't remember), but benzos are the ones that made I realize that a dealer is more humane than psychiatry as a profession.

[kimmiann]

After being prescribed for over a decade, I stopped for a few years. The end of year 3 was almost as bad as the acute. Tremors, tachycardia, sweating, insomnia.. it never went away. I was in therapy the whole time but had to do it over telehealth because the agoraphobia was so bad. I'm currently down to 2mg of klonopin 2×/daily and it took years to get comfortable on this dose. I had a shitty doc who asked if I wanted something that'd work immediately or build up in my system over months. I wanted instant relief. It's panic. I keep trying to function on lower doses and some days I get by on one klonopin, but it's not comfortable. I hate the doc who did this to me. I was young and had no idea he was writing for xanax because I didn't know what alprazolam was, nor did I know how addictive it is. Hopefully I'll be able to stop altogether, but today isn't that day unfortunately. This month does mark 5 years of opioid sobriety so at least I have that. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[WihelminaVonMiners]

I took doctor prescribed Klonopin for over ten years, I quit taking them 9 yrs ago and still have issues. My anxiety has never returned to a normal base level and I still can’t get past the agoraphobia the withdrawal caused. This drug not only created new issues but worsened the ones I originally started taking it for. For those that are currently struggling, it does get better and you will heal so keep going and never give up.

[SweetTea_]

Going to meetings? I’ve been on Benzodiazepines for 20 years disabled with severe anxiety and panic disorder and I can’t find ‘a meeting’ to save my life!

[Carolina_girl]

So no one experiences the constant brain pulsating and throbbing pressure 24/7 like something is squeezing your brain at every second of the day??

[stephiis]

I remember I tried to get my doctor to prescribe them to me years ago and she said no. I can't thank her more for that now. Much love to everyone going through this right now. I just learned about the hell on earth that is benzo withdrawal. Never thought anything could suck more than fentanyl withdrawal... but I was mistaken.

[katiecarter]

I came to your clinic August of 2018 in Richmond Va as I was told a rapid detox was safe. It was the worst mistake I have ever made next to taking the benzos. The Flumazenil detox fried my nervous system ten times worse and I am 5.5 years into protracted withdrawal still with dozen of symptoms. I’ve lost the last 5 years being the mom I always dreamed of to our son and my life. It’s given me ptsd and ruined my life. I’ve eaten super healthy and gone by the book of what and what not to do. We spent an additional $40, 000 on stem cells that still didn’t fix the damage. Never do a detox and always slow taper and listen to your body! Don’t make the same mistake that I did.

[deemariewright]

Cardiologist prescribed benzo for two years then during an office visit says his prescribing license is revoked and he’s sorry but can’t write the benzo anymore. So, just like that within 18 to 24 hours I was sick beyond sick, then worse to the point I couldn’t even talk to tell anyone what had happened. I’m not young either.
Yes, sudden stop of benzo, such as alprazolam will put your BP minimum between 170 -220 systolic, heart rate 120/minute & over, cause no sleep for minimum 8-12 days, seizures and strokes. This is what doctors fail to tell you. I couldn’t help but notice when this doctor in the video began naming symptoms he seemed to lower his voice and kinda trail off there at the end as he said ‘seizures’…….’strokes’…. That’s certainly not the time to go quiet on two of the major withdrawal symptoms that can either kill you or change one’s life forever for the worst.
One of my three very dear, close girlfriends who was ten years my senior went to her regular doctor appointment they put her to see this ignorant NP who had just started working at her doctor’s office & the NP just decided my friend didn’t need the alprazolam so she was just suddenly taken off alprazolam (Xanax) that they had had her on for many years. She had two strokes & it had affected her mind where she was just docile and could be talked easily into anything, like a child and it also greatly affected her memory. (She’s deceased now from the C-jab & Remdesivir 🤬).
Dr. Heather Ashton in the UK did some awesome studies on benzodiazepines and why they must be dealt with more seriously with more education of what’s going on re: withdrawing from this medication. She’s deceased now at 90 y.o. Below is a link and you can find YouTube videos with her teaching about this. I think she founded several clinics just for tapering from benzodiazepines.

[dustygatrell-rutg]

Fir anybody going threw benzo withdrawal, just know that your brain is healing. It might take a long time but you WILL get better. I'm currently withdrawing from benzos fir 5 in half months now. I'm still suffering but it's gotten a tiny bit better. Your brain will lie and say this is just how you are, but it's NOT. No human in the history of time is feeling like benzi withdrawal just from being themselves. Keep your hopes strong because that will get you threw this nightmare. Is God not much bigger then some withdrawals? Remember your just gonna be a much stronger person when you heal and hardly nothing will bother you anymore after going threw this my bro went threw benzo withdrawals years back an he healed. He's doing good now. Matter of fact he said he felt better then he ever has after he healed.

[mariannelabanane]

it takes at least 3 to 12, sometimes 24, 48 months for the brain to fully get back to normal. It's a long time ...

[Jannietime]

I can’t even tell the truth about how long I’m off and still injured because it will upset people in the throes of withdrawal. I’m a ton better but still the injury dominates my life. Fuck benzo’s straight to hell. I always took as prescribed and was not an addict. I’m so sorry for everyone in it.

[annstar]

Nice to hear something positive- you CAN recover from BZO !!!!

[mariocondello]

He's spot on with the time frame. I'm at about 13 months alcohol and benzo free but still having withdrawal issues like muscle pain and tinnitus. I'm hoping at 18 - 24 months it will feel like it was all a bad dream.

[MrTimjd]

A hospital cold turkey ed her off Benzos. It put her into such a bad withdrawal she was on life support for 15 days, and spent 2 years to get somewhat of a normal life back. When went to the hospital to simply ask what her recovery will be off them, as soon as I mentioned Benzo, they had security walk me out the front door even though i was polite and just asking for some advice.

[Hggfcgghg]

I don’t remember a lot about my experience with benzodiazepines but I know I was in a dark place. I regret taking them. If I didn’t find Jesus I wouldn’t be alive now

[macintoshimann]

Even with PTSD and a movement disorder and chronic pain... my life is so much better just 1.5 years without benzos. The first 6 months were kinda rough but finding tools like meditation and yoga ended up giving me a better quality of life than before I was on the drugs. First thing every morning I’m glad I woke up cuz I got a daily hike and it’s gonna be blissful. The big personality changes for the best have made the experience so different from the hellish protracted withdrawal I was scared of. I honestly believe meditation really sped up the recovery process.

[blakejohnson]

I’ve been off benzos for four years and am still in withdrawal hell. Can’t sleep. Pretty sure I permanently messed my brain up. Weight gain, headaches, major fatigue, insomnia, depression.

[dustygatrell-rutg]

I keep comming back to this video. I need to reasure myself i will heal.