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Symptom Details

All data must be read in conjunction with the survey limitations.

The table below shows the percentage of respondents who rated the specified symptom as not a symptom, mild, moderate or severe at each point in the benzo journey. The symptom category that was least troublesome at each stage has been marked in blue and the symptom category that was being reported as most troublesome is marked in yellow. For instance, before starting benzos, the dermatological symptoms category was reported as the least troublesome, with 65% of respondents saying that they did not rate this as a symptom. At the same stage the psychiatric group of symptoms were rated the most troublesome, with 27% rating their experience with this symptom as severe.

Before Starting Benzos Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom 54 64 44 53 50 65 24 23 57
Mild 21 19 28 20 21 19 22 25 21
Moderate 14 12 19 16 16 12 28 26 14
Severe 12 5 9 12 13 4 26 27 8
                   
At Start of Taper Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom 29 36 26 25 21 39 13 10 37
Mild 29 26 28 22 24 26 20 18 24
Moderate 24 24 26 27 26 24 28 29 25
Severe 19 13 19 27 28 11 39 42 13
                   
Worst Point in Taper Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom 13 16 13 5 6 27 5 4 21
Mild 17 21 22 10 10 25 10 9 25
Moderate 26 29 28 25 25 27 16 21 28
Severe 43 34 37 60 60 21 69 65 27
                   
End of taper Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom 21 26 21 13 11 35 10 9 29
Mild 26 26 31 22 22 28 22 21 30
Moderate 53 26 23 25 26 21 22 26 21
Severe 0 22 24 40 41 16 46 45 20
                   
Worst Point in Recovery Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom 28 34 33 14 12 48 14 17 42
Mild 32 31 33 26 23 23 29 20 23
Moderate 19 18 18 21 27 13 13 23 21
Severe 21 17 16 39 38 15 44 39 14
                   
12 Months off Not Well Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom 16 16 17 8 4 26 12 8 24
Mild 41 39 38 21 26 46 28 31 45
Moderate 24 23 27 40 35 17 35 37 21
Severe 19 22 18 31 35 12 25 24 10
                   
24 Months off Not Well Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom 17 15 33 4 4 26 11 11 28
Mild 43 41 37 35 28 43 24 35 43
Moderate 26 20 15 35 37 20 39 39 22
Severe 13 24 15 26 30 11 26 15 7
                   
36Months off Not Well Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom 12 8 24 0 0 32 12 12 24
Mild 44 36 40 36 24 36 24 32 44
Moderate 28 24 28 40 48 28 40 40 28
Severe 16 32 8 24 28 4 24 16 4
                   
At Time of Deciding to Stay on Benzos Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom 35 48 33 38 23 47 13 10 47
Mild 38 22 38 18 37 30 45 42 27
Moderate 17 23 18 23 20 12 28 22 12
Severe 10 7 10 20 20 12 13 27 15
                   

A similar table for June 2007 is available. By subtracting the results above from the June 2007 results it is possible to see how the results have varied between the two survey dates. There is no significant statistical difference in the results for before starting benzos, at the time of deciding to withdraw, in taper, at the end of the taper, at the worst point in recovery and for those staying on. There is a statistical difference in the results for those 12, 24 and 36 months off and not well. The numbers in each of these categories in the first survey was small: twenty one, eleven and fifteen respectively. The numbers at the second survey date were a little bigger at fifty seven, twenty one and twenty five respectively, however they may not be big enough to ensure a random sample hence the variation is results.

Before Starting Benzos Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom -1 -4 -4 2 1 -1 0 0 -2
Mild 1 2 4 -2 -1 0 3 4 1
Moderate -1 1 1 0 0 0 -2 0 1
Severe 1 0 0 -1 0 1 -1 -4 0
                   
At Time Decided to Withdraw Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom -1 1 -5 -1 0 1 0 1 -1
Mild -1 0 4 1 3 0 -1 2 1
Moderate 2 -2 -2 1 -1 1 2 1 0
Severe 0 1 3 -2 -3 -2 0 -4 0
                   
Worst Point in Withdrawal Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom 1 -3 -4 1 0 0 1 3 -3
Mild 0 5 1 1 0 0 -1 -1 5
Moderate -1 3 0 5 4 0 1 0 -1
Severe 0 -4 3 -8 -4 -1 -2 -1 0
                   
End of taper Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom 0 -4 -4 -1 0 0 0 1 -5
Mild -2 3 0 -2 -2 -1 -2 -3 2
Moderate 2 0 0 3 0 0 4 5 1
Severe -1 1 4 0 2 1 -2 -3 2
                   
Worst Point in Recovery Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom 2 2 0 -1 2 2 -2 -1 -3
Mild 2 -1 1 5 1 0 5 7 2
Moderate -3 -6 -3 2 3 -2 0 -2 -2
Severe -1 4 1 -6 -6 0 -2 -5 2
                   
12 Months off Not Well Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom 5 -1 6 6 2 3 1 1 7
Mild 9 13 -3 6 16 1 5 8 2
Moderate -6 -6 -3 -3 -10 -3 1 -1 -6
Severe -8 -5 -1 -9 -8 -1 -7 -8 -3
                   
24 Months off Not Well Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom -2 -4 2 3 1 7 3 -1 13
Mild 5 11 -2 4 9 -7 5 12 -10
Moderate -1 -4 0 -8 -9 -4 -15 -15 -1
Severe -2 -3 0 -1 0 3 7 4 -1
                   
36 Months off Not Well Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom -1 1 -3 -1 -1 -1 -8 -8 4
Mild -9 -4 -7 3 -3 -4 -3 5 -9
Moderate 15 -3 8 0 -5 1 0 -7 8
Severe -4 5 1 -3 8 3 11 9 -3
                   
At Time of Deciding to Stay on Benzos Cardiovascular Dermatological Gastrointestinal Musculoskeletal Neurological Genitourinary Paradoxical Psychiatric Respiratory
  % % % % % % % % %
Not a Symptom 3 3 4 7 10 1 2 3 1
Mild -3 -3 0 -4 -7 -2 -5 -2 -1
Moderate 1 1 -2 -4 2 3 3 -3 0
Severe -1 0 -1 2 -5 -2 0 2 -1
                   

 

 

Disclaimer:  The information contained in this website was not compiled by a doctor or anyone with medical training. The advice contained herein should not be substituted for the advice of a physician who is well-informed in the subject matter discussed. Before making any decisions about your health or treatment you should always confer with your physician and it is always assumed that you will do so.

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Last updated 21 July 2020