Web Sites About Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

Web Sites

Dr. Peter Breggin's Site:
Dr. Peter Breggin is the founder of The International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology and has written several books about the negative affects of drugs on both adults and children.

Promoting Drug Awareness:
The International Coalition for Drug Awareness is a non-profit organization devoted to making people aware of the side effects and dangers of prescription drugs.

Benzodiazepine Information, Help and Support:
BenzoBuddies has lots of helpful information about getting off of Benzodiazepines, including a Benzo-Guide and a busy forum. Very nice site.

A Swedish Website On Benzodiazepines:
The Site of Experience is a website run by several people who have had problems getting off of Benzodiazepines. An inspiring site. Good info.

Information About Benzodiazepine Withdrawal:
Benzobusters is a website set up to help people with Benzodiazepine dependence problems. Here find info about withdrawal symptoms, literature concerning Benzo dependency, and much more. Here you can order Heather Ashton's manual, Benzodiazepines, How They Work and How to Withdraw.

Extensive Information on Benzos Plus a Book List:
Benzodiazepine Addiction, Withdrawal and Recovery is Mr. Nimmo's website which has the most extensive information out there about Benzos and withdrawal. If you haven't visited there yet, please do now. Also, from the same site, here is his list of many books from both this country and abroad about Benzo addiction and withdrawal.

Ruth and Sue's Site:
Ruth and Sue's Site. A fun, interesting and informative site with lots of helpful info on getting through withdrawal. Also check out the games to take your mind off of things, they even have Pacman!

Pills Anonymous:
Pills Anonymous, a 12-step program for overcoming prescription drug abuse, has a chat club at Yahoo. It's for anybody addicted to pills of any kind, including Benzodiazepines.

More Web Links:
The Internet Guide to Prescriptions Drugs.
The RX List is a useful source of information about drugs, apparently you can look up any drug and find out information about it.

Books:
A very good book on how to withdraw from tranquilizers is Free Yourself from Tranquilizers & Sleeping Pills by Shirley Trickett. I recommend this for anybody taking Benzodiazepines and wanting to stop.

I also recommend Dr. Peter Breggin's new book Your Drug May Be Your Problem. Published in September, 1999, he gives a very good overview of the problems with psychotropic drugs. Also, his book Toxic Psychiatry is a classic in the area of abuse of psychiatric drugs. He also has written several others including Talking Back To Ritalin and Brain-Disabling Treatments in Psychiatry: Drugs, Electroshock and the Role of the FDA.

Another very interesting book about the mind is The Growth of the Mind by Dr. Stanley I. Greenspan. He writes about the development of the self, and how many of us are damaged as we pass through our childhood. He has some great ideas about what really helps people.

Another good book on the problems with Benzodiazepines is Benzo Blues by Edward Drummond, MD.

Back to Life by Pam Armstrong is available from CITA In England. Someone has told me that they read it, and liked it.

Organizations:
Tranx in Australia helps people addicted to Benzodiazepines. Their website is new and under construction, so bookmark it and check back frequently.

EMAIL Me: Betty Foote

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Symptoms Of
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Include:

Increased anxiety
Panic attacks
Insomnia, nightmares
Fears of going mad
Increased depression
Breathless feeling
Suicidal feelings
Aggression
Symptoms like "flu"
Nausea
Constipation, diarrhea
Distorted vision
Dizziness
Shaking
Tight chest
Ringing in the ears
Hormone problems
Headaches
Rubbery legs
Sore eyes
Feelings of tight band around head
Pain in the neck and shoulders
Loss of interest in sex, impotence
Agoraphobia
Hallucinations
Creeping sensation in the skin
Increased sensitivity to light, sound, touch, and smell
Outbursts of rage
Tight throat
Skin rashes
Abdominal pain
Hyperactivity
Confusion
Sweating
Palpitations, slow pulse
Chest pain
Loss of taste, metallic taste
Thyroid problems
Sinus problems
Heavy, aching limbs
Blurred vision
Feelings of electricity all over
Feelings of being pricked with tiny needles
Dramatic increase in sexual feelings
Craving for your sleeping pills or tranquilizers
Pain in the face or jaw that resembles a toothache
Tingling around mouth, hands, and feet
Seizures may occur when drugs have been stopped abruptly

Note: The symptoms of Benzo withdrawal mentioned on this web site are taken from the book Free Yourself from Tranquilizers & Sleeping Pills, by Shirley Trickett, 1997, Ulysses Press, pp. 24-25.