Anti-anxiety meds
Benzodiazepines are the most prominently used class of anti-anxiety drugs. Even though the drug is great at providing immediate relief against anxiety symptoms, don’t be fooled into believing you can stop taking them once your anxiety has ceased. ‘With long-term use and frequent use of these drugs, a physiological dependence can develop,’ says David Henderson, MD, professor chair of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine.
‘The abrupt stopping in that class could lead to consequences like withdrawal symptoms similar to alcohol withdrawal and even seizures.’ Your risk of seizures is greatest during the first 24 to 72 hours after you stop. In order to prevent these withdrawal symptoms and seizure risk, your doctor will slowly taper your dosage until your body is safely off the drug entirely.
