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HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE
BENZODIAZEPINE TAPERING?
There is no universal process or timeline for tapering. For some
patients it may take more than a year to taper off benzodiazepines.
• Usually benzodiazepine tapering takes longer when:
• You have been taking the medication for a long time
• You are taking higher doses of the medication
• However, this is not always the case. People respond
differently to reducing their benzodiazepine dose.
Some will need to go slower than others.
» Some patients who have been taking high doses of
benzodiazepines for years have minimal problems with tapering
at a relatively fast rate (15–25% every 2–4 weeks). Others who
have been taking a low dose of benzodiazepines for only a
month or two experience significant withdrawal symptoms
even when tapering slowly (5% every 2–4 weeks).
MANAGING WITHDRAWAL
• You should check in with your healthcare provider throughout
the tapering process and discuss withdrawal symptoms you are
experiencing.
• After reducing your dose, it may take up to a week for
withdrawal symptoms to occur.
» Tell your healthcare provider about any intolerable
withdrawal symptoms right away.
» Withdrawal symptoms may increase as you get close to the end
of the taper.
» In some cases, withdrawal symptoms may continue even after
the taper is complete. This is known as protracted withdrawal.
