The length of time it takes to detox from benzos varies from person to person and depends on a number of factors, such as:
- The type of benzodiazepine medication used
- The severity of addiction and quantity of benzos consumed regularly
- A family history of substance abuse
- The abuse of other drugs or alcohol while abusing benzos
- The individual’s pre-existing physical and mental health status
- The method used to consume benzos
Generally, the first symptoms of benzo detox will appear within 6 to 12 hours after the last dose of short-acting benzos, and after 24 to 36 hours for long-acting benzos.
Users of short-acting benzos such as Xanax can expect acute detox symptoms to last for about 7 days. Users of long-acting benzos may experience acute detox symptoms for up to 3 months.
Some benzo users may experience post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), which consists of symptoms like insomnia, fatigue and intense cravings. While PAWS can persist for months after the user is no longer physically dependent on benzos, the symptoms are generally less intense than they were during the acute withdrawal phase.