The Dangers of Benzodiazepines: Psychiatrist Allen Frances, M.D.

Examples of benzodiazepines include: alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium, Diastat) and lorazepam (Ativan).

Note: This video does not constitute medical advice. Stopping psychiatric drugs, especially abruptly, can be dangerous, as withdrawal effects may be severe, disabling or even life-threatening.

Video edited by Daniel Mackler

[mcasher]

I'm on generic Ativan (lorazepam) and can't get off, my life is in hell, Fear and panic all the time. Hard even to just walk...

[KristinLove]

I wish I could find a doctor like him. They decided I had to stop taking them, and how fast I had to get off of them too. By far the worst and longest lasting drug I’ve ever experienced withdrawal from.

[PinkScorpion]

My life is over!! I stopped Klonopin may'23 cause I had suicide attempt on them...But I took some here n there so I kindled ..my symptoms r so severe!! I stopped drinking a month ago too..My air hunger is so severe!! I panic everyday feeling like I'm suffocating! When I breathe through my nose all I feel is like a brick n pressure!! It's blocking n pushing on my nasal passage airway causing me to panic!! Can't live like this! All I feel when I breathe in through my nose is like a brick in back of throat n pressure n heavy air! It's just breathing into back of throat w blockage!😭afraid of that suffocating feeling every second of my life. That's all I think about cause it's so traumatic n this fucking withdrawal wants to block my

[devonstrong]

Do you honestly think we all have a choice whether to stop or not?? I was so sick, I had no choice but to withdrawal (cold turkey due to ignorance & bad medical treatment)

[blairsterling]

A doctor told me that if I weened off Klonopin, I would never be able to sleep again. I have been on Klonopin since 1995 - 29 years now. I am older than 65 now. I wonder if there is a Benzo expert that could taper me off properly, and I would be able to sleep ??

[dexedrne]

He didn't actually state the dangers of benzos...

[timsteinkamp]

They should try a little pot in a brownie maybe.

[thomasallen]

Drs see a patient for sometimes even less time than 7 minutes. It's a money thing. More patients means more scripts and therefor more money.

[_blew_a_fuse_]

What choice do ya have when you have been off it for 1 yr and your still all screwed up from that trash !!!