Understanding how benzo withdrawal impacts the body—especially through symptoms like benzo belly—is essential for individuals preparing for recovery. With the right clinical support and therapeutic interventions, it’s possible to manage these symptoms effectively and move forward with confidence on the path to healing. Symptoms of “benzo belly” manifest themselves because this class of medications affectsalmost every cell in the body, including those of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract). Although Benzodiazepines are prescribed medications to treat anxiety and stress, they can quickly cause dependency and addiction. So, people try to quit these drugs independently, not knowing how they’ll manage the withdrawal symptoms. We create a custom detox plan just for you, focusing on improving your gut health during withdrawal.

Impact of Benzodiazepines on Digestive Health

• Benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause a wide range of both physical and psychological symptoms, ranging in severity from mild to severe, within hours of your last dose.
• You can get clean and sober, start therapy, join a support group, and start your journey to recovery.
• Anxiety, abdominal distress and insomnia tend to present at the same time, and you’ll want external support from friends and loved ones to make it through.
• Withdrawal from benzodiazepines will feel physically and psychologically uncomfortable, but it’s rarely lethal.
• Withdrawal from benzodiazepines can be a stressful experience, and stress has been shown to impact the digestive system significantly.
• Taking a prescription drug in ways other than as prescribed by a healthcare provider can be dangerous.

This communication network connects these two areas in the body and might be the reason why you experience benzo belly. During this stage, patients can experience severe symptoms, including intense anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, and sometimes psychotic episodes. Crucially, unsupervised withdrawal can also lead to life-threatening complications like seizures. This is why gradual withdrawal under the supervision of a medical specialist is essential.

We offer a state-of-the-art inpatient facility and have specialized options for trauma, including EMDR and a specialty track for veterans and first responders. Overall, a combination of these approaches can significantly help manage benzo belly. These lifestyle changes also support the body’s natural healing processes during the transition away from benzodiazepine dependence. In cases where tapering proves difficult, or symptoms are severe, referral to an addiction specialist may be necessary. The goal is to minimize discomfort while safely reducing benzodiazepine use, thereby addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of benzo belly.

Are you in benzo withdrawal?

Unmanaged digestive symptoms, like bloating, nausea, and constipation, can lead to dehydration, malnutrition, and worsened withdrawal effects. These issues can make the detox process even more uncomfortable and dangerous. When you stop taking benzos, your nervous system rebounds, which can cause disruptions in digestion. This can result in symptoms like abdominal pain, constipation, bloating, and cramping. Additionally, anxiety and stress from benzo withdrawal can make these gastrointestinal symptoms even worse, leaving you feeling even more uncomfortable. If you experience symptoms of “benzo belly,” it is crucial to consult with your healthcare provider.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and include anxiety, insomnia, nausea, and seizure activity. Benzodiazepines are a class of psychoactive drugs known for their central nervous system depressant effects. Commonly prescribed benzodiazepines include diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and lorazepam (Ativan). These medications are primarily used to treat anxiety disorders, insomnia, and neurological disorders due to their ability to enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). By increasing GABA activity, benzodiazepines promote calmness and relaxation, which is crucial in treating such conditions.

Some types of Benzodiazepines include Xanax, Librium, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin, Restoril, and Halcion. They enhance the dopamine levels in the brain, making you feel more relaxed and happier. Unfortunately, after using these drugs for a few weeks, your body will stop producing these hormones naturally. People try to solve this problem by taking prescription medications that can do more harm than good when misused. The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care.

What’s “Benzo Belly”? Meet the Little-Known Withdrawal Symptom

A slow taper is usually the best option to help prevent withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms usually get better with time, but may last a year or more for some people. For most substances, withdrawal symptoms last one or two weeks after taking the last dose. Benzodiazepines are known for having long post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS), or protracted withdrawal. With common brand names like Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin, benzodiazepines are a class of prescription medications used to treat anxiety and seizure disorders.

Recognition of the condition is vital for proper management, as abrupt cessation of benzodiazepines can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms. There are plenty of myths surrounding benzo withdrawal and the feasibility of home treatments. You should never try to quit benzodiazepines cold turkey, use weed or Adderall to recover or take antidepressants, as all these “remedies” can cause severe harm.

Benzodiazepines enhance the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that helps calm the brain, nervous system, and body. The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper offers comprehensive addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions. Studies have shown that individuals experiencing benzo belly may face adverse consequences in their personal and professional lives. Symptoms may affect their social interactions, work productivity, and overall mental health.

Effective Lifestyle Changes for Managing Benzo Belly

In most cases, people believe that benzo belly symptoms are very close to the discomfort you feel when you eat something heavy. Some research suggests that the benzo belly is related to the brain-gut connection. The gut-brain axis relates to the connection between the emotional and cognitive areas in the brain to the digestive tract.

Our approach is comprehensive, targeting both the benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms and the overarching treatment for benzodiazepine addiction, thereby fostering a more holistic recovery journey. Benzodiazepines, commonly prescribed for managing conditions such as anxiety disorders and insomnia, can lead to physical dependence. Notably, a study conducted in Catalonia, Spain, from March 2020 to December 2021, found that the COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to benzo belly an increase in benzodiazepine prescriptions.

• Additionally, the same bacteria mentioned here are responsible for regulating gas in the GI tract, which may explain the unpredictable bloating that comes with benzo belly.
• Managing the side effects of benzodiazepines, particularly “benzo belly,” involves several strategies.
• These lifestyle changes also support the body’s natural healing processes during the transition away from benzodiazepine dependence.
• Our approach is comprehensive, targeting both the benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms and the overarching treatment for benzodiazepine addiction, thereby fostering a more holistic recovery journey.

How Benzodiazepines Work

These therapies aim to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms and improve overall well-being. You can get clean and sober, start therapy, join a support group, and start your journey to recovery. Check out our blog posts and resource links for the latest information on substance abuse. Although research on the exact cause of this reaction is limited, it’s believed to be linked to the strong connection between the brain and the gut. Withdrawal syndrome can occur if you begin weaning off a drug, or if you try to stop taking it very suddenly after developing physical drug dependence. Keep in mind, these may alleviate the symptoms of bloating but likely won’t completely treat the source of the condition.

For instance, it’s been observed that for every 100 adult visits to an office-based doctor over the course of a year, 27 visits result in a prescription for a benzodiazepine. This statistic highlights the widespread use of these drugs and underscores the potential for a significant number of individuals to experience “benzo belly” during withdrawal. The journey through benzodiazepine withdrawal, especially during the acute withdrawal phase, can be challenging due to these gastrointestinal disturbances. At Villa Oasis, our approach to treating “benzo belly” includes strategies to mitigate the impact of these symptoms on the overall recovery process. Recognizing and addressing these issues is crucial in facilitating a smoother transition through the protracted withdrawal phase and towards complete recovery from benzodiazepine addiction. Given the potential for long-lasting and distressing symptoms, it is crucial for individuals experiencing benzo Belly to seek professional medical advice.

Methadone Addiction and Rehab in South Jersey

It can also be a sign of substance abuse, or the misuse of a benzodiazepine. If you or a loved one is experiencing discomfort as a result of benzo belly, there are some steps you can take for symptom relief during the detox process and withdrawal. If you’ve developed dependence, withdrawal symptoms may occur within hours of your last dose of an anti-anxiety medication, and can last for several days, weeks, or months. Benzo belly is a nonclinical condition that may be identified by a number of common signs and symptoms of benzo withdrawal. Withdrawal from benzodiazepine drugs like Ativan (lorazepam) or Xanax (alprazolam) can cause side effects such as rebound anxiety, constipation, bloating, and indigestion.