Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for alcohol withdrawal, anxiety, depression, seizures, panic attacks, sleep disorders (including insomnia and restless leg syndrome), and as muscle relaxants. No wonder it’s prescribed to 1 in every 4 adults. However, combined with the brutal nature of its addiction and the time and difficulty involved in withdrawing- Benzos (Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin) are listed right up there with Cocaine and Heroin as one of the 6 hardest drugs to quit!
This presents a conundrum-to either live with the symptoms or live with the side effects of the pharmaceutical ‘cure’. If on this class of highly addictive pharmaceuticals, is there a way to be gently weaned off?
If a person has been on benzos longer than 2 weeks, it’s suggested not to stop abruptly. Rather, it should be gradually tapered off over an extended period of time. One of the most followed guidelines was issued by the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, an organization affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. These guidelines suggest an initial reduction of 25-30% for high dosage chronic users, followed by a 5-10% daily to weekly reduced dose.
Break Free from Benzos: Discover a Safe Alternative
What other options are there for alcohol withdrawal, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and seizures while preserving your own health? Our NEW Ashwagandha Forte!
Each tablet of Ashwagandha Forte comes from 4 grams or 4,000 mg Withania Somnifera root resulting in 400 mg of a 10:1 extract. At a retail (patient) price of only $29.50 for a bottle, it’s well within most budgets and in most cases, will last a month.
Sleep disorders? Consider this: One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with a total of 60 patients for 10 weeks used full-spectrum root extract of 300 mg Withania somnifera twice daily. The study monitored sleep latency (how long it takes to fall asleep), sleep anxiety, cortisol reduction and total sleep time. In all parameters, there was significant improvement. It has also been found to be safe to use while on SSRIs.
500 mg Ashwagandha has suppressed the PTZ kindling (acute and severe) seizures of alcohol withdrawal in animals. Ashwagandha exhibited an anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effect similar to that of diazepam and considered a safe and reliable alternative in alcohol withdrawal conditions. Consider adding Standard Process Neuroplex for this particular symptom- and reach out to me for additional information.
Upcoming Webinar
Learn more about this versatile and valuable product with Kerry Bone:
Thurs, Feb 18th @ 4-5:15pm – Focus on Ashwagandha w Kerry Bone
References:
- Jain S, Shukla SD, Sharma K, Bhatnagar M. Neuroprotective effects of Withania somnifera Dunn. in hippocampal sub-regions of female albino rat. Phytother Res. 2001 Sep;15(6):544-8.
- Evaluation of Ashwagandha in alcohol withdrawal syndrome
- Ashwagandha in brain disorders: A review of recent developments
