Sleep Meds: Benzodiazepines | What You Need to Know

This video continues our series on sleep videos and begins our coverage on sleep medications. Our series will cover the various categories of sleep medications that are commonly prescribed in America, beginning with today's video on benzodiazepines. You probably are already familiar with the names of several benzodiazpines:

alprazolam aka Xanax
lorazepam aka Ativan
clonazepam aka Klonopin
diazepam aka Valium

Today, we will have a candid discussion on the potential risks and pitfalls of chronic usage of benzodiazepines and in particular highlight the risk of potential risk of developing a tolerance and dependence on benzodiazepines and how that can lead to withdrawal effects.

The point of this video is not to be judgmental or demonize the usage of benzodiazepines. As a psychiatrist, I prescribe them and utilize them as a tool. But, the purpose is to help viewers become as informed and educated about the facts and potential risks of what they are putting into their bodies so you can make the most informed decisions about your health as possible.

If you haven't already, please check out my video on sleep hygiene and sleep tips. And please subscribe and stay tuned for followup videos on other categories of sleep medications as well.

Thank you for your support and encouragement as always.

~Dr. Andrew Kim MD
Board Certified Psychiatrist

Remember this video is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes and should NOT be taken as personal medical advice. I am NOT your doctor.

Please submit other educational topics and questions you would like to hear me discuss in upcoming videos, video podcasts, and my "Ask Dr. Kim" series. Please submit general topic requests or questions. Please do not submit specific, personal medical questions, as I will not respond to those, as I am not your doctor.

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** The information in this video, including but not limited to, videos, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this video channel and its affiliated websites (such as AndrewKimMD.com) are for informational and entertainment purposes only. No material on this channel is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen on this website or its affiliated social media sites & channels. **

**Disclosures: At the time of creating this video, Dr. Andrew Kim M.D. was an independent contractor on the Janssen Speakers Bureau and works as a Principal Investigator on FDA clinical trials for pharmaceutical sponsors. **

[sandywhat]

I was delusional enough to think that drs would CARE or WANT me to survive the benzo withdrawal. They did not. They made it very clear, that my life was expendable. Their main concern was to protect themselves.
I actually was delusional.

[MsAlien]

My best friend had covid twice, both times ended up in hosp. For some reason, they cut her benzo, that she'd been in for 40 years, and put her on morphine, which she HATED, she spent her last 2 weeks not feeling like herself at all, being panicy and unable to think properly, and just wanted her mojo back. I think her sudden withdrawal killed her, not the covid. RIP trisha

[sandywhat]

I was on benzos for 40 years. Withdrawal almost killed me numerous times. My Drs gave me ZERO information or informed consent. Nor did they tell me the potential horror and damage to the body that could happen weaning off.

[jbwetzstein]

I needed you and this video before I got on a benzo last year. I hit tolerance in just 3 months. Now I'm 6.5 months into a loooong taper with awful daily symptoms. Thank you for putting out a warning, Dr. Kim. It is much needed and way too absent across the medical field.

[mikeberger]

I watched your entire video and it's a great education. Well done and thanks for eliminating unnecessary content that is so common on youtube.

[shyaaammeneen]

Extremely usefu information. Sharing a method to relax. To feel better reduce negative thoughts and overthinking. Avoid comparing with others, reduce negative social media and avoid constipation as it affects the mind instantly. Your breathing is closely related to the brain [mind] and gives relief from stress-anxiety. To relax sit on a chair or lie down, neck straight, eyes closed and observe the sensations of your incoming--outgoing breath at the entrance of the nostrils for 5-10-15 minutes or more. Never meditate with expectations but with awareness. Don’t fight your thoughts. With daily practice the mind will relax. No deep breathing needed. Observe your breath sensations before sleep, in college, at work, taking a walk, when reading, etc.etc. Like me, make this a lifetime daily habit to have a better life. Best wishes--Counsellor.

[micktbaby]

So interesting that you a suggesting consult with your Dr about tapering. Mine suggested a one month 25% per week. Way too fast. She was without any knowledge on how to do this correctly, or any empathy regarding the situation of prescribed physical dependency. My solution was to educate myself. I will completely conceal what my tapering plan is for fear that my prescription will be stopped. I really don’t want to experience cold turkey. From what I have extensively read the majority of physicians are just like her. You sir are a unique exception recommending an individualized plan….your patients are quite fortunate.

[lalamullen]

Just got prescribed one of these and found your video. SO helpful & realistic without making me panicked or scared. Thank you!

[WildBillHabiki]

I was on Klonipin for 30 years to help me sleep then the rug was ripped out from under me with 2 weeks to detox. After detoxing I got to the point where I could only sleep 2-3 hrs max and I could not stay on a daily schedule. It was pure hell. I drank every night because it would put me to sleep but you can't drink every freaking night. I kept telling my primary that Klonipin (1mg a day!) helped me tremendously but she doesn't care. Thankfully I have a relative that gets extra klonipin so she gives me enough to keep me going. I'm sorry if some people can't handle Klonipin or abuse it but not everyone is that way. Some people actually benefit from it long term!

[irishtino]

I've taken clonazepam for 8 to 10 years daily at low dose .5mg twice a day. It worked great for panic. I have been happy with it, but it definitely has lost its efficacy over the last 5 years. I have tried to discontinue use under doctors supervision, had to stop because of anxiety rising up. The key is to go very slowly, the CDC says .5mg reduction every 4(?) weeks. Some people have to go much slower .25mg.

[By_EliaDeLeon]

My mom got prescribed Benzos and she’s having the worst reaction. She’s still not sleeping, shes depressed, nauseous, she’s not eating. She’s been taking 15mg dose for a month so luckily not a long time. Tomorrow we see a psychiatrist. Watching your video gives me hope for her. She’s going through a really tough time. Her GP sent her to so many specialist knowing he could have just sent her to a psychiatrist to begin with.

[marionwest]

Doctors in the U.K. are wanting you to stop taking Benzos. They expect you to just stop and go onto anti depressants instead. No understanding at all about how hard withdrawal symptoms are. When I was in hospital for an operation, they took me off these for the whole week I was incarcerated. I didn’t sleep at all, felt dreadful, and had chronic side effects. If you haven’t experienced chronic insomnia, you have little empathy with the dreadfulness and despair. Doctors should have more training on this topic.

[artshahnazarianesq.]

Excellent information extremely well presented! Very much appreciated by yours truly and undoubtedly many others!

[srabchun]

After being on a bezo (clobazam)for 2.5 years for seizures, I wanted off. It caused me to have moments where I'd experience temporary amnesia. I also had no libido. And no sense of self. I just felt like I was existing. I titrated off of it over a 2 month period. Using a good quality cbd at night, and a multi cannabinoid that includes delta8 thc in the day, seems to help with the withdraw symptoms. Not 100%, but both have therapeutic effects that make the withdrawal symptoms tolerable.

[michelleschmitt]

I appreciate your bluntness. Thank you.

[directorbob]

That was excellent info. Thanks Doc. I am currently day 8 off benzos (valium & xanax) and day 14 off hydrocodone and can barely sleep even with alcohol & cannabis. I am down to a 6 pack a night (very low for me because i used to have 10 to 12 drinks a night). So going to start tapering down to 5 drinks, 4 drinks etc. You mention synergy effect. My body was so dependant on combo of alcohol, benzos and opioids it feels like I will never sleep again even with alcohol. This sucks.

[jimbrown]

Heed the warning. The effects of Benzodiazepine is not to be taken lightly.

[laurastone]

Thank you for sharing info with this community. I have been doing slow taper for a year and it was really rough at first but I think I am leveling out and I am super excited has been lots of days of non-functioning but overall I think the slow tapering is working out OK if I start to feel too many withdrawals I just microdose and one day I will be completely free! I still don’t know how to sleep very well I have to listen to soft music or sleep talk down videos to help me relax and I have to have complete darkvery light sensitive. Continued prayers for everyone who has been through this and going through this definitely a big shift on many levels keeping the faith!

[ngoannguyen]

Thanks so much! Waiting to watch more your videos!

[rebeccaslater]

Very well presented and honest and relatable . Thankyou