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Key points. It is possibleIt is worth doingIt needs the right time, the right support and the right regimenRelapse happens but should not be a reason not to try and keep trying!. Not every one needs a detox
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1. Detoxification from Benzodiazepines.Why, when and how… Lucy Cockayne
Lead Clinician
2. Key points It is possible
It is worth doing
It needs the right time, the right support and the right regimen
Relapse happens but should not be a reason not to try and keep trying!
3. Not every one needs a detox… Even with long term use mot everyone develops dependency.
More likely when
Longer durations of treatment
Higher doses
More potent benzodiazepines
Shorter-acting drugs
A history of anxiety problems
(Kan et al 2004)
4. ADDICTION IS A BRAIN DISEASE Not allowing people into treatment has consequenses!Not allowing people into treatment has consequenses!
5. Addiction work needs to be evidence base and delivered with compassion.
Evidence can guide guidelines – but must be adapted to the individual sitting in front of you.Addiction work needs to be evidence base and delivered with compassion.
Evidence can guide guidelines – but must be adapted to the individual sitting in front of you.
6. Why detoxify Long term use:
Affects thinking and memory
Reduces emotional responsiveness
Increased depression and anxiety
Most actually feel better after coming off the drugs “the net curtain lifted …”
Even short term consequences can be dire!! (look away if you are squeamish)) It was as though a net curtain or veil had been lifted from their eyes: slowly, sometimes suddenly, colours became brighter, grass greener, mind clearer, fears vanished, mood lifted, and physical vigour returned.It was as though a net curtain or veil had been lifted from their eyes: slowly, sometimes suddenly, colours became brighter, grass greener, mind clearer, fears vanished, mood lifted, and physical vigour returned.
8. “If the only tool you own is a hammer, everything starts tolook like a nail”
9. Is it possible Evidence for brief interventions
Evidence for various graded withdrawal regimens – but no robust comparison (Sweetmen, Lingord-/hughes)
Slow seems better (Ashton 1987) – but cohort study
10. Withdrawals depend on speed of reduction Most people only experience mild withdrawal symptoms when withdrawal is slow and tapered to their needs [Ashton, 2002d].
Severe withdrawal symptoms are associated with the following [Kan et al, 2004]:
Rapid withdrawal
Prolonged use of benzodiazepines
High-dose use
Short-acting, potent benzodiazepines
People with a history of anxiety problems
Withdrawal symptoms characteristically vary in severity and type from day to day and from week to week. As some symptoms resolve, others may take their place. These symptoms gradually become less severe and less frequent with time [Ashton, 2002d].
11. What has been tried? NO EVIDENCE for:-
Anticonvulsants
Antipsychotics – makes it worse!!
Antidepressants
Beta blockers
Buspirone
SOME evidence for propranolol
Lingford- Hughes et al 2004
12. Hard facts! Most people will become dependent after > 6 weeks continuous use
Only 30% of benzodiazepine dependent people ever get off them completely
Methadone patients at high risk of benzodiazepine abuse (25 - 65%)
13. Why is it so hard to come off? Reducing causes increased excitation throughout the brain which causes the symptoms of withdrawal, including agitation, anxiety, and insomnia.
The number of GABA receptors is slowly restored in response to benzodiazepine cessation or dose reduction.. The rate of withdrawal of treatment needs to allow time for GABA receptors to regenerate if withdrawal symptoms are to be minimized.
14. Common problems when detoxing. Symptoms of depression
Symtopms of anxiety
Insomnia
Worsening of pre-existing mental health problems
OCD
Panickattacks
Psychotic symptoms
15. Anxiety symptoms Common to all anxiety
Agitation
panic attacks
agoraphobia
Insomnia
nightmares
Depression
Poor memory,
loss of concentration
Specific to withdrawal
Perceptual distortions, depersonalization
Hallucinations (visual and auditory)
Tingling and loss of sensation, formication (a feeling of ants crawling over the skin)
Sensory hypersensitivity
Muscle twitches and fasciculations
Psychotic symptoms, confusion, convulsions (rare)
16. How long do symptoms last? Up to 15% of people develop protracted withdrawal symptoms (months or years)
Anxiety:- Gradually diminishes over 1 year
Insomnia:- Gradually diminishes over 6–2 months
Depression:- May last a few months
responds to antidepressants
Cognitive impairment:- Gradually improves, but may last for >1 year
Perceptual symptoms (e.g.tinnitus, paraesthesia, pain (usually in limbs) Gradually recedes, but may last for at least 1 year and occasionally persist indefinitely
Motor symptoms (e.g.muscle pain, weakness, tension, painful tremor, jerks) Usually gradually recede, but may last for >1 year
Gastrointestinal symptoms:-Gradually recede, but may last for at least 1 year and occassionally persist indefinitely
17. GABA BRAIN CIRCUITRY
18. Some people don’t need benzos!
20. Different detoxes for different types of addiction? Therapeutic dose dependence.
Prescribed high dose dependence
More flexibility in reduction
Recreational use of benzodiazepines
to increase the "kick" obtained from illicit drugs
alleviate the withdrawal symptoms of other drugs of abuse
Tend to be fixed withdrawal – why?
21. Suggested principles. Where possible change to a long acting drug – usually diazepam
Avoid extra medication
Antidepressants only useful for clinical depression or panic attacks
SUPPORT.. SUPPORT.. SUPPORT!
Family, friends, helplines, addiction or GP staff
22. Why use diazepam? Withdrawal is most easily managed from diazepam because:
Diazepam and its metabolites (desmethyldiazepam and nordiazepam) have long half-lives (between 20 hours and 200 hours), which ensures a gradual fall in blood concentrations. The blood level of its longest active metabolite for each dose falls by a half in about 8 days [Micromedex, 2006
23. When to detox? Sometimes required to “get on a script”
Usually only short term success
Well prepared:
Good physicaland psychological health
Stable on other drugs – e.g. methadone or anti depressants
Stable personal circumstances
24. Detox regimens Be flexible in following the schedule
For people taking 40 mg per day of diazepam or less, a typical withdrawal schedule that is tolerated by most people would be to:
Reduce by 2 mg to 4 mg every 1–2 weeks to 20 mg per day
Reduce by 1 mg to 2 mg every 1–2 weeks to 10 mg per day
Reduce by 1 mg every 1–2 weeks to 5 mg per day
Reduce by 0.5 mg to 1 mg every 1–2 weeks until completely stopped.
Total withdrawal time from diazepam 40 mg per day might be 30–60 weeks; withdrawal from diazepam 20 mg per day might take 20–40 weeks.
Stopping the last few milligrams is often seen by patients as being particularly difficult but this is usually an unfounded fear derived from long-term psychological dependence on benzodiazepines.
25. RCGP new guidelines Highlight benefits of stopping
Recommend FLEXIBLE, GRADUAL reduction, “tailored to individual”
“consider the need for psychological support”
“When symptoms arise…
Explain
Slow or suspend withdrawal
26. New developments
28. FLUMAZENIL benzodiazepine receptor “antagonist” (high affinity, low agonist action)
attenuates withdrawal and reduces withdrawal symptoms & signs
normalizes and upregulates BZD receptors
restores GABA receptor allosteric structure and inhibits BZD induced uncoupling
reverses tolerance
reduces craving
29. Intravenous flumazenil versus oxazepam in the treatment of benzodiazepinewithdrawal: a randomized, placebo-controlled study Gerra G et al
Addiction Biology; 7:385 -395, 2002
30. Single-blind, randomized, placebo- controlled trial (n = 20) IV flumazenil 1mg in 500ml normal saline over 4hrs x twice daily (0900 - 1300; 1430 - 1830) for 8 days + (oxazepam 30mg,15mg, 7.5mg nocte x 3 days)
(n = 20) tapering oxazepam 105mg - 7.5mg over 8 days
(n = 10) placebo tablets and saline infusion
31. Intravenous flumazenil in the treatment of benzodiazepine dependence reduced withdrawal symptoms & signs
reduced craving
reduced post detoxification relapse rates
32. Intravenous flumazenil in the treatment of benzodiazepine dependence
reduced post detoxification relapse rates
DAY 30
FLUMAZENIL: 40%
OXAZEPAM: 70%
33. Westmead protocol IV flumazenil 1mg in 500mg normal saline per 6 hours continuous infusion for 4 - 5 days
No benzodiazepine supplementation
24 hours post infusion observation
34. BENZODIAZEPINE ABSTINENCE AT LONG TERM FOLLOW-UP
I MONTH
Abstinent = 75%
Known Relapse = 11%
Relapse + lost to follow up = 25%
3 MONTHS
Abstinent = 54%
Known Relapse = 34%
Relapse + lost to follow up = 46%
36. References Ashton, C.H. (1987) Benzodiazepine withdrawal: outcome in 50 patients. British Journal of Addiction 82(6), 665-671.
Ashton, C.H. (2002a) Benzodiazepines: how they work and how to withdraw. The Ashton Manual. University of Newcastle. www.benzo.org.uk [Accessed: 16/03/2006]. [Free Full-text]
Ashton, C.H. (2002b) How to withdraw from benzodiazepines after long-term use. The Ashton Manual. University of Newcastle. www.benzo.org.uk [Accessed: 31/03/2006]. [Free Full-text]
Ashton, C.H. (2002c) Slow withdrawal schedules. The Ashton Manual. University of Newcastle. www.benzo.org.uk [Accessed: 31/03/2006]. [Free Full-text]
Ashton, C.H. (2002d) Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms, acute and protracted. The Ashton Manual. University of Newcastle. www.benzo.org.uk [Accessed: 31/03/2006]. [Free Full-text]
Ashton, C.H. (2004a) Protracted withdrawal symptoms from benzodiazepines. Comprehensive handbook of drug & addiction. University of Newcastle. www.benzo.org.uk [Accessed: 10/04/2006]. [Free Full-text]
Ashton, H. (2004b) Benzodiazepine dependence. In: Haddad, P., Dursun, S. and Deakin, B. (Eds.) Adverse syndromes and psychiatric drugs. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 239-260.
Ashton, H. (2005) The diagnosis and management of benzodiazepine dependence. Current Opinion in Psychiatry 18(3), 249-255.
Bashir, K., King, M. and Ashworth, M. (1994) Controlled evaluation of brief intervention by general practitioners to reduce chronic use of benzodiazepines. British Journal of General Practice 44(386), 408-412. [Free Full-text]
Bateson, A.N. (2002) Basic pharmacologic mechanisms involved in benzodiazepine tolerance and withdrawal. Current Pharmaceutical Design 8(1), 5-21. [NHS Athens Full-text]
37. References (cont) BNF 51 (2006) British National Formulary. 51st edn. London: British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
Bowie, A., McAvoy, B., Spencer, I. et al. (2006) Randomised controlled trial of two brief interventions against long-term benzodiazepine use: outcome of intervention. Addiction Research and Theory 12(2), 141-154.
Cormack, M.A., Owens, R.G. and Dewey, M.E. (1989) The effect of minimal interventions by general practitioners on long-term benzodiazepine use. Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners 39(327), 408-411.
CSM (1988) Benzodiazepines, dependence and withdrawal symptoms. Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance 21(Jan), 1-2. [Free Full-text]
Curran, H.V., Collins, R., Fletcher, S. et al. (2003) Older adults and withdrawal from benzodiazepine hypnotics in general practice: effects on cognitive function, sleep, mood and quality of life. Psychological Medicine 33(7), 1223-1237.
DTB (2004) What's wrong with prescribing hypnotics? Drug & Therapeutics Bulletin 42(12), 89-93.
Kan, C.C., Hilberink, S.R. and Breteler, M.H. (2004) Determination of the main risk factors for benzodiazepine dependence using a multivariate and multidimensional approach. Comprehensive Psychiatry 45(2), 88-94.
Kaplan, E.M. and DuPont, R.L. (2005) Benzodiazepines and anxiety disorders: a review for the practicing physician. Current Medical Research and Opinion 21(6), 941-950. [NHS Athens Full-text]
38. References (cont) Lingford-Hughes, A.R., Welch, S. and Nutt, D.J. (2004) Evidence-based guidelines for the pharmacological management of substance misuse, addiction and comorbidity: recommendations from the British Association for Psychopharmacology. Journal of Psychopharmacology 18(3), 293-335.
Longo, L.P and Johnson, B. (2000) Addiction: part I. Benzodiazepines - side effects, abuse risk and alternatives. American Family Physician 61(7), 2121-2128. [Free Full-text]
MeReC (2005) Benzodiazepines and newer hypnotics. MeReC Bulletin 15(5), 17-20. [Free Full-text]
Micromedex (2006) MICROMEDEX [CD-ROM]. (vol 127, 1st quarter 2006). Thomson Healthcare.
Montgomery, P. and Dennis, J. (2003) Cognitive behavioural interventions for sleep problems in adults aged 60+ (Cochrane Review). The Cochrane Library. Issue 1. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. www.thecochranelibrary.com [Accessed: 08/03/2007]. [Free Full-text]