[Benzodiazepine physical dependence. 6 cases (author's transl)]

Abstract

The symptoms include, by ascending order of severity: nightmares and insomnia, nausea and vomiting, muscular weakness or tremor, postural hypotension, hyperthermia, muscle twitching, convulsions, confusional state or psychosis. Prominent features are the late onset of these symptoms, several days after treatment has been discontinued, and the sometimes difficult diagnosis, since patients are usually unaware of their dependence on these drugs. Reinstituting benzodiazepine treatment, then withdrawing it progressively are the best curative measures. Prevention is easy if treatment is gradually rather than abruptly withdrawn in all patients who receive the compound in high dosage for more than one month.