All data must be read in conjunction with the survey limitations
The best figures for evaluating how a person experienced withdrawal and recovery seemed to be:
- The respondents evaluation of the difficulty of their own withdrawal. The ratings were 10 = Easy, 11 = Not easy but not too difficult, 13 = Difficult, 14 = Extremely Difficult.
- The average functionality rating for the individual at the worst point in withdrawal. Here 1 = able to do one of the nine activities with ease and 9 = able to all 9 of the activities with ease.
- The average number of months needed to recover once off benzodiazepines.
Below is a summary of how various factors seemed to affect the respondents to these surveys in terms of the three measures above.
The men, while rating themselves a little more functional than the women, also rated their withdrawal slightly more difficult and they took longer to recover.
Age seemed to play a role in withdrawal and recovery. The younger age groups rated withdrawal more difficult and themselves less functional than the older age groups but they recovered quicker.
There was not enough data to calculate an average recovery time for those taking Valium as their original benzodiazepine.
For this group of respondents Klonopin seemed to be the drug that gave people the least problems in withdrawal and recovery . Xanax and Ativan seemed to cause more problems. The situation with regard to those on other benzos and those taking a combination of benzos was confused.
The situation with regard to the those on a combination of benzos was a little clearer when it was analyzed by the number of benzos people took. Withdrawal increased in difficulty with the number of benzos being taken while functionality decreased. The lower recovery time for those taking 2 benzos was still confused.
There was no clear relationship between the reason why respondents were prescribed their benzodiazepine and how they experienced withdrawal and recovery.
The graph below explores the relationship between withdrawal method and peoples experience of withdrawal and recovery. It is looking at the relationship between the method that was used to get of the majority of the benzodiazepine. (Note that this is slightly different to looking at the methods one by one as was previously explored). The indication for these respondents is that the cold turkey, the inpatient detox and the outpatient detox were most difficult and water titration the easiest method. This particular group of respondents also rated the rapid dry cutting method as easier than might be expected
Looking at the measures for the different types of survey it is evident that those who were not well at 12, 24 and 36 months after the completion of their withdrawal rated their withdrawal as more difficult and themselves as less functional at the worst point in withdrawal.
There was no clear pattern when looking at the relationship between time taken and the withdrawal difficulty and functionality but shorter time taking the drugs seemed to result in a quicker recovery time for this group of respondents.
The picture was confused when looking at the amount taken, when the amount taken was broken down into 10 and 20mg groups.
Looking at the pattern for those who took 40mg and under, and those who took over 40mg Valium equivalent seems to suggest that those who were taking more than 40mg were worse off on the various measures
