Common Side Effects
- Sleepiness
- Feeling light-headed
- Confusion
- Lack of balance, particularly in the elderly, leading to falls and injuries
- Feeling dizzy
- Slurred words
- Muscle fatigue
- Issues with memory
- Constipation
- Feeling nauseous
- Dryness in the mouth
- Vision issues like blurriness
Less Frequent Side Effects
- Head pains
- Hypotension
- Excessive saliva
- Digestive issues
- Skin reactions
- Vision disturbances like double vision
- Shaking hands
- Altered libido
- Loss of bladder control
- Urination difficulties
Uncommon Side Effects
- Blood-related issues
- Yellowish skin tone (jaundice)
- Breast growth in individuals assigned male at birth
Memory Concerns
For some users, benzodiazepines can lead to memory retention issues. These are usually problems with forming new memories.
It’s unlikely to affect old memories. Doctors may only prescribe sleep aids in this category if uninterrupted sleep for about 7-8 hours is possible, as the medication may interrupt the memory retention process during sleep.
More About SleepCounterintuitive Effects
Sometimes, benzodiazepines can produce 'paradoxical' effects that oppose their intended function. These can include :
- Violent tendencies
- Restlessness
- Worries
- False beliefs
- Feeling disconnected from reality or yourself
- Feeling down
- hallucinations
- Inappropriate actions and lowered inhibitions
- Irritability
- Night terrors
- Changes in personality
- Psychotic episodes
- Rage fits
- Restiveness
- Suicidal ideation or actions
These are generally more frequent in children and the elderly, and with fast-acting forms of the drug.
Long-Term Use Risks
If you use benzodiazepines continuously for over 2-4 weeks, you may encounter :
- Concentration issues
- Feelings of numbness and sluggishness
- Social and emotional disconnect
- Emotional volatility
- Self-esteem issues
- Fluctuations in weight
- Memory lapses
You may even experience withdrawal while still on the medication or need to increase your dosage to maintain its efficacy.
Withdrawal Concerns
Infrequent use under doctor’s guidance usually doesn't lead to withdrawal symptoms. However, prolonged, regular use can lead to dependency and withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop or reduce the dose.
Symptoms of Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms may include :
- abdominal pain
- fear of open spaces
- physical signs of anxiety
- vision issues
- lack of focus
- facial and neck pain
- headaches
- heightened sensitivities
- loss of sexual interest
- poor appetite
- mild to moderate mood dips
- feeling nauseous
- night terrors
- panic episodes
- restiveness
- insomnia
- eye soreness
- metallic taste
- tinnitus
- tingling sensations
- imbalance
- weight decrease
Severe symptoms could include :
- skin burning
- disorientation
- delusions
- feeling removed from reality
- hallucinations
- memory lapses
- twitching muscles
- paranoia
- seizures
Withdrawal Onset
Symptoms can begin hours after stopping short-acting forms or up to three weeks for long-acting ones. Longer use increases withdrawal risks, especially with short-acting forms.
How To Stop Safely
Reducing the dose gradually can minimise withdrawal risks. Consult your doctor and seek support, possibly from online or local groups or loved ones.