A PARTIAL list of potential side effects from Psychiatric Dr

Symptoms List
Our thanks to Ray Nimmo, Irene Mazis and others from the benzo egroup for allowing us to use their valuable information.
1. ACUTE
2. PROTRACTED
3. PARADOXICAL
4. TOLERANCE EFFECTS (including toxicity)
5. SIDE EFFECTS
6. CATEGORIES OF SYMPTOMS
___________________________________________________

1. ACUTE:
- aggression
- anxiety
- agoraphobia
- apathy
- ataxia
- breathlessness
- chest discomfort and tightness
- choking
- constipation
- convulsions (muscle usually)
- dental pain
- depersonalisation
- depression
- derealisation
- diarrhoea
- distortion of body image, misperceptions
- dry, itchy skin
- ‘electric shock’ feelings throughout the body
- dysphoria
- excitability
- fasciculations
- flushing
- formication
- head sensations
- heart palpitations
- hyperacusis
- hypersensitivity to stimuli
- hyperpyrexia (overheating)
- hyperventilation (overbreathing)
- insomnia
- intrusive thoughts
- irrational rage
- irritability
- jumpiness
- metallic taste
- nausea
- nightmares
- obsessions
- panic attacks
- perceptual disturbances and distortions
- photosensitivity
- psychotic symptoms (usually transient and confined to rapid withdrawal)
- restlessness
- seizures (on abrupt discontinuation)
- sensory disruption
- scalp burning
- sore tongue
- sweating, night sweats
- tinnitus
- tremor
- vomiting
- weakness, ‘jelly legs’
- weight loss (this may be quite rapid)

Symptoms usually confined to ‘cold turkey’ or rapid withdrawal from high doses of benzodiazepines:
- seizures
- fits
- confusion
- delirium
- psychotic symptoms

2. PROTRACTED:
- anxiety
- aching joints
- ataxia
- allergic reactions
- back pain
- blepharospasm (eye twitching)
- breast pain
- apathy
- constipation (often alternating with diarrhoea)
- cravings
- dehydration
- dental pain
- depersonalisation
- depression
- derealisation
- diarrhoea (often alternating with constipation)
- dry, tickly cough
- dysphagia
- fluctuations in blood pressure
- ‘electric shock’ feelings throughout the body
- fasciculations
- formication (sensation of bugs crawling over skin)
- gait disturbance (the ground seems to move underfoot)
- gastritis
- glassy eyes
- hair loss
- heartburn
- heart palpitations
- heavy flu-like symptoms
- hyperaesthesia (sensitivity to stimuli)
- insomnia
- iris colour changes
- leukonychea (whitening of nails)
- libidinal changes
- malabsorption
- menstrual irregularity
- muscular rigidity
- muscular spasms
- myoclonic convulsions (muscle/nerve spasms)
- nausea
- neurological problems (topical nerve anaesthesia)
- nose bleeds
- oedema (especially of ankles and face)
- oesophagitis
- paraesthesiae (numbing, burning and tingling; pins and needles)
- poor concentration
- poor short-term memory
- perspiring, night sweats
- severe headaches
- sinusitis
- skin insensitivity
- sore, itchy eyes
- spine (burning sensation)
- stomach cramps
- thirst
- thrush-like symptoms
- tremor
- tinnitus
- tiny pupils
- urinary problems (bladder either ‘all on’ or ‘all off’)
- vertigo
- visual disturbances (blurred, double, vivid)
- vomiting
- water retention

3. PARADOXICAL:
- agitation
- aggressive behaviour
- anxiety
- breathlessness
- excitability
- fear
- hostility
- hyperactivity
- irrational rage
- insomnia
- nervousness
- nightmares, vivid dreams
- phobias
- restlessness
- restless legs, arms
- sleep disturbance
- tension
- tremor
- panic attacks

4. TOLERANCE EFFECTS (including toxicity)
:- anxiety
- apnea (night)
- breathlessness
- dyspnea (breathing problems)
- fibrositis
- fatigue
- gait disturbance
- impotence
- leaden heaviness
- lethargy
- libido disturbances
- loss of self-confidence
- menstrual irregularity
- neurological problems
- panic attacks
- phobias
- severe muscle rigidity
- short-term memory impairment
- vasovagal attacks
- vertigo

5. SIDE EFFECTS:
- anti-social behaviour
- apathy
- bradycardia (slow heartbeat/pulse)
- breast enlargement
- chemical sensitivities, allergies
- dry, itchy skin
- depression
- dysphoria
- fatigue
- flu-like symptoms
- hair loss
- impairment of motor co-ordination
- lethargy
- mild hypertension
- nausea
- oedema
- shivering
- speech difficulty
- thyroid disturbances
- water retention
- weight gain
- xeroderma (dry skin)

———————————————————————————
CATEGORIES OF SYMPTOMS

CARDIOVASCULAR:
- bradycardia (slow heartbeat/pulse)
- fluctuations in blood pressure
- mild hypertension
- shivering, feelings of extreme cold or hot
- heart palpitation

DERMATOLOGICAL:
- allergic reactions
- chemical sensitivities
- dry, itchy skin
- dry throat, sore tongue, thrush
- formications (sensation of crawling on skin)
- glassy eyes
- hair loss
- leukonychea (whitening of nails)
- nosebleeds
- oedema
- paraesthesiae (numbness, tingling)
- perspiring, night sweats
- rashes, blotches

GASTROINTESTINAL:
- bladder incontinence
- constipation (sometimes alternating with diarrhoea)
- diarrhoea
- dyspepsia (indigestion)
- gastritis
- heartburn
- malabsorption
- nausea
- oesophagitis
- stomach cramps

GENITOURINARY:
- impotence
- libido disturbances
- menstrual irregularities
- urinary problems (continence or incontinence)
- encopressia (faecal incontinence)

MUSCULOSKELETAL:
- aching joints
- back pain
- blepharospasm (eye twitches)
- fasciculations (muscle twitches)
- formication (sensations of bugs crawling on skin)
- gait disturbance
- jaw, tooth, neck and shoulder pain
- muscle wasting
- muscle spasms
- rapid weight loss
- severe headaches
- severe muscle rigidity
- spine (burning sensation)
- tremor or feeling of inner vibration
- vertigo

NEUROLOGICAL:
- blurred vision, seeing spots, flashes, vivid vision
- bruxism (teeth grinding)
- dysphagia (difficulty eating or swallowing)
- ‘electric shock’ feelings
- fatigue, leaden heaviness
- hypersensitivity to light, sound, and other stimuli
- neurological problems (e.g. topical anaesthesia)
- severe muscle rigidity
- speech difficulty
- thirst
- tinnitus (ear buzzing, popping, ringing, hissing)
- tiny pupils
- tremor

PARADOXICAL:
- agitation
- aggressive behaviour
- anxiety
- breathlessness
- excitability
- fear
- hostility
- hyperactivity
- irrational rage
- insomnia
- nervousness
- nightmares, vivid dreams
- phobias
- restlessness

PSYCHIATRIC:
- apathy
- anxiety
- delirium
- depersonalisation
- depression
- derealisation
- distortions or hallucinations
- dysphoria (inability to feel pleasure or happiness)
- fear
- hyperventilation
- hyperreflexia (‘jumpiness’)
- hypnagogic hallucinations (sleepwalking)
- lack of concentration
- loss of self-confidence
- nightmares
- obsessions
- paranoia
- phobias (hydrophobia, agoraphobia, monophobia, acrophobia, anthropophobia & others)
- rapid mood changes
- suicidal thoughts
- short-term memory impairment

RESPIRATORY:
- breathlessness
- choking
- dry, tickly cough
- dyspnea (breathing difficulty)
- hyperventilation (overbreathing)
- inability to draw satisfying breath
- night apnea
- sinusitis