Use of short-acting hypnotics, while being effective at initiating sleep, worsens the second half of sleep due to withdrawal effects.Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be severe and provoke life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures, particularly with abrupt or overly rapid dosage reduction from high doses or long-time use. A severe withdrawal response can nevertheless occur despite gradual dose reduction, or from relatively low doses in short-time users; even after a single large dose in animal models. A minority of individuals will experience a protracted withdrawal syndrome, whose symptoms may persist at a sub-acute level for months or years after cessation of benzodiazepines. The likelihood of developing a protracted withdrawal syndrome can be minimized by a slow, gradual reduction in dosage.Chronic exposure to benzodiazepines causes neural adaptations that counteract the drugs effects, leading to tolerance and dependence. Despite taking a constant therapeutic dose, long-term use of benzodiazepines may lead to the emergence of withdrawal-like symptoms, particularly between doses, when patients are treated with shorter-acting benzodiazepines. When the drug is discontinued or the dosage reduced, withdrawal symptoms may appear and remain until the body has reversed the long-term physiological adaptations. These rebound symptoms may be identical to the symptoms for which the drug was initially taken, or may be part of discontinuation symptoms. In severe cases, the withdrawal reaction may exacerbate or resemble serious psychiatric and medical conditions, such as mania, schizophrenia, and, especially at high doses, seizure disorders.
This helped reassure them they could sleep without their pills.The authors also warned of the similarities in pharmacology and mechanism of action of the newer nonbenzodiazepine Z drugs.The elimination half-life of diazepam and chlordiazepoxide, as well as other long half-life benzodiazepines, is twice as long in the elderly compared to younger individuals. Many doctors do not adjust benzodiazepine dosage according to age in elderly patients. See also
References
External links

Benzodiazepines: How they work and how to withdraw by Professor Heather Ashton
The Minor Tranquilliser Project, For support, Camden, UK
Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome at Curlie