Can benzodiazepine medications worsen dizziness?
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Video Transcript
My doctor gave me Xanax to help with dizziness, but I’m finding I’m more dizzy now than before I started taking it. Can benzodiazepine medications worsen dizziness?
Yes, they can!
Benzodiazepine medications are often prescribed to treat dizziness. Unfortunately, dizziness and fatigue are common side effects of benzodiazepine medications.[1][2] To make matters worse, fatigue can also cause a person to feel dizzy.
On the one hand, the medication is prescribed to reduce a symptom, and on the other, the side effects worsen the very symptom you are trying to reduce.
I (Jim Folk) don’t recommend regularly taking benzodiazepines because of the many problems they can create, including causing or aggravating anxiety symptoms, such as dizziness.
Moreover, benzos are linked to increased falls and fractures in older adults, which is especially troublesome since falls are the leading cause of injury and death in older adults.[3]
Rather than taking a benzo to alleviate anxiety-caused dizziness, I suggest working on both levels of anxiety disorder recovery so that you can eliminate your symptoms naturally.
In addition to providing lasting relief from anxiety disorder and its symptoms, there aren’t any negative side effects associated with natural recovery that can impact you as you age.
Dealing with your anxiety issues naturally can benefit you for the rest of your life without the potential of medications complicating your elder years.
Yes, overcoming anxiety disorder and its symptoms takes effort and time. But the results are lasting and can benefit you for the rest of your life without the potential adverse effects of medication complicating your life as you age.
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Additional Resources
- For a comprehensive list of Anxiety Disorders Symptoms Signs, Types, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
- Anxiety and panic attacks symptoms can be powerful experiences. Find out what they are and how to stop them.
- How to stop an anxiety attack and panic.
- Free online anxiety tests to screen for anxiety. Two minute tests with instant results. Such as:
- Anxiety 101 is a summarized description of anxiety, anxiety disorder, and how to overcome it.
Return to our Anxiety Frequent Questions archive.
anxietycentre.com: Information, support, and therapy for anxiety disorder and its symptoms, including: Can Benzodiazepine medications worsen dizziness?
References
1. Arbanas, G et al. "Adverse effects of benzodiazepines in psychiatric outpatients." Psychiatria Danubina, Mar 2009.
2. Nordqvist, Joseph. "The benefits and risks of benzodiazepines." MedicalNewsToday, 7 Mar 2019.
3. "Falls are leading cause of injury and death in older Americans." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 22 Sep 2016.