The recommendation that if benzodiazepines are given continuously for months they should be withdrawn gradually, needs to be stressed to the patient taking the drug as well as to the prescribing doctor. Twelve days following discontinuation of the drug, the patient continued to experience diarrhea, restlessness, emotional lability, and anxiety. The prolonged period needed for detoxification in this patient raises important questions regarding the appropriate length of hospitalization or close supervision required to withdraw the diazepam addict. The toxic effect of alcohol and drugs is to produce depression, especially after chronic use. A Major Problem.
Benzodiazepine use is prevalent.
Moreover, benzodiazepine abuse, addiction, tolerance, and dependence occur commonly with benzodiazepine use. Confusion arises in assessing the nature and magnitude of benzodiazepine use and its consequences. Abuse, addiction, tolerance, and dependence occur in medical and nonmedical populations, but the studies do not clearly differentiate the benzodiazepine use between these two populations. The nonmedical use in medical populations is underestimated and underdiagnosed. The nonmedical use is also misdiagnosed in nonmedical populations as medical use.