BENZO-BELLY is the term used to describe the abdominal symptoms a person experiences when they withdraw from benzodiazepine use.

Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety, panic disorder, insomnia and seizures. Benzodiazepines are identified under variety of different names such as: Clonazepam (Klonopin), Alprazolam (Xanax), Lorazepam (Ativan), Temazepam (Restoril), Triazolam (Halcyon), Diazepam (Valium)

These drugs are considered addictive substances. With continued use you may experience: Drowsiness, Dizziness,Weakness, Loss of balance, Irritability and Memory impairment

Common symptoms of Benzo- belly are: lower abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, indigestion, elevated blood pressure, muscle tension, muscle spasm, muscle cramps, chest pain, appetite changes, and weight loss.

Benzodiazepines slow the central nervous system down. Digestion can be particularly affected as it relies on the central nervous system to function correctly. The body may struggle to digest food, leading to gastrointestinal symptoms.

How long does Benzo- belly last?

Benzo-belly usually occurs between 5 to 19 days and up to many months

Symptoms worsen when you eat or drink

How to recover from Benzo-belly

Seek Professional Help from an Addiction Specialist

Eat smaller meals

Stay away from certain foods such as fatty, oily, creamy or acidic foods

Try incorporating probiotics into your diet to help promote healthy gut bacteria.

A recent research article published in Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) discusses benzodiazepine discontinuation and mortality among long term users of benzodiazepines.

 According to Maust et al. “In this emulated trial of benzodiazepine discontinuation among adults prescribed a stable long-term benzodiazepine regimen, there were small absolute increases in mortality and additional harms. Given the interest in reducing long-term prescribing, it will be important to conduct prospective studies or use observational approaches to replicate these findings and examine characteristics of patients and the discontinuation process that either attenuate or exacerbate this association. In addition, given questions raised about the safety of discontinuing benzodiazepine prescriptions among stable long-term users, clinicians should be judicious in initiating new prescriptions and carefully limit conversion to long-term use.” (Maust et al., 2023)

Maust DT, Petzold K, Strominger J, Kim HM, Bohnert ASB. Benzodiazepine Discontinuation and Mortality Among Patients Receiving Long-Term Benzodiazepine Therapy. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(12):e2348557. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.48557