How to stop taking Orfidal?

Benzodiazepines are widely used drugs in our societies, since they are a symptomatic relief of problems such as stress and insomnia. Taking a pill it seems that we have a quick solution to our problems.

Among these anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs we find Orfidal, a short-acting benzodiazepine that, on many occasions, becomes addictive and its effects seem to be weakening.

Not a few people have a problem both with this drug and with benzos in general, for this reason here we are going to talk about how to stop taking Orfidal. Of course, never stopping to consult a psychiatrist.

• Related article: "Types of anxiolytics: drugs that fight anxiety"

How to safely stop taking Orfidal?

Before understanding how to stop taking Orfidal and why it is so important to do so, it is necessary to know a little more about this drug. The Orfidal is a medicine that is part of the benzodiazepines, since its main active component is lorazepam.

Benzodiazepines are a family of psychotropic drugs that are often prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and mood disorders, in addition to being used as anesthetics in minor interventions, such as at the dentist or endoscopies. They can also be used as muscle relaxants and can be used for alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Orfidal, like most benzodiazepines, is usually a symptomatic treatment and not a curative one.

Benzodiazepines can be divided into two types: short-acting and long-acting.. This classification is based on whether they last more or less than 12 hours, being the case of Orfidal a short-acting drug, which is why it is used in the short-term treatment of anxiety and tension states, associated or not with functional or organic disorders, including anxiety associated with depression.

It is also used as a pre-anesthesia in minor surgical procedures, such as dentistry and endoscopy, in addition to treating sleep disorders.

• You may be interested in: "Types of psychotropic drugs: uses and side effects"

Why do you have to be careful with this drug?

Orfidal, along with the rest of the benzodiazepines, is a safe drug. However, as with any other drug, you must be careful and its consumption should be limited to what the doctor or psychiatrist has prescribed. Long-term use of benzodiazepines can lead to problems, something that can be easily seen as these drugs are widely used in developed societies.

Among the unwanted effects of benzodiazepines we have poor memory (amnesias), cognitive impairment, emotional dullness, depression, increased anxiety, and physical problems. However, in addition to these effects, the most serious problem associated with benzodiazepines in general and Orfidal in particular are the easy onset of tolerance to these drugs, accompanied by dependence.

Drug tolerance refers to when the effect of a drug is significantly reduced after a few weeks or months of use. In other words, the therapeutic effects that the drug gave at the beginning of the treatment are becoming weaker when consuming the same dose. This is why consuming Orfidal and other benzos for years is pointless.

Directly related to tolerance we have dependency, that is, addiction is generated. Seeing that the effects of the drug are less and less with the same dose, patients increase it. They are also reluctant to leave the Orfidal since they believe that, although it no longer has the same initial hypnotic effect, when they leave it they will suffer a lot of anxiety and insomnia.

In the specific case of Orfidal, we have as main side effects disorders linked to the immune and lymphatic systems. This drug can cause a decrease in platelets in the blood, as well as pancytopenia, which is the reduction of blood cells (red, white blood cells, and platelets).

Another aspect for which you should be careful with the Orfidal is related to its mechanism of action. This drug acts directly on the brain, making the passage of information between neurons much slower, since it promotes the action of the neurotransmitter GABA. This is why it can cause weakness, drowsiness, muscle weakness, dizziness and decreased alertness as side effects. There is a relationship between suffering more accidents and injuries and taking Orfidal.

Sudden abandonment of the Orfidal and without proper medical control can lead to withdrawal syndrome. That of this drug, which is especially related to the degree of tolerance and dependence that the patient presents, gives as symptoms headache and nervousness.

It is for all this that the consumption of any drug, and in this case Orfidal and other benzodiazepines, should be done following the recommendations and criteria of the professional. The following measures should be taken:

• Use the drug at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest possible time.
• If there is no improvement in the second week, rethink the treatment.
• Regularly monitor its effectiveness and control the appearance of tolerance.
• If a long period of use is expected, use long half-life benzodiazepines
• Neither Orfidal nor any benzodiazepine should be used in patients with a history of drug abuse.

Orfidal Precautions

Like any other drug, the consumption of Orfidal involves a series of precautions. The main one is to know if you are allergic to any type of benzodiazepine, especially lorazepam. This drug should also not be taken if you have autoimmune diseases, insufficiency severe respiratory, kidney and liver problems, plus a history of addiction to benzodiazepines.

Consumption of Orfidal it is not recommended if you are pregnant or suspect that you are, with which it will be necessary to notify the psychiatrist in case he wishes to start treatment with this drug. It is also not recommended to prescribe Orfidal in girls, either as an antidepressant or as a hypnotic. It is not at all recommended to consume this drug accompanied with alcohol, since the sedative effects of this medication are increased.

When and how to stop taking this drug?

How to stop taking Orfidal? As a general rule, benzodiazepines should be reduced little by little, especially if the treatment has been longer than 6 months. This is done with the intention of weaning the person from the drug, while preventing withdrawal symptoms. It is advisable to reduce the total daily dose between 10 and 25% every two weeks, although there are different forms of intervention in this regard and each person will need a different reduction.

Sometimes, in the case of benzodiazepines, the post-withdrawal syndrome may appear. This can occur after 8 weeks, insomnia persisting and having a greater vulnerability to stress, anxiety and irritability. In this case, you should see a doctor to see what therapeutic options can be applied and if it is really advisable to stop taking Orfidal at this time.

On some occasions, withdrawing the drug may imply less benefits than the negative consequences related to the withdrawal itself, either the appearance of the symptoms for which he was taking the drug or risk of withdrawal syndrome. This is why the doctor should assess whether it is advisable to continue the treatment in the long term, with its periodic evaluation and finding the optimal moment for cessation.

As we have commented, Orfidal and other benzodiazepines easily generate dependence and tolerance. That is why it is recommended that its use be done for short periods of time. As they are symptomatic and non-curative treatments of anxiety, insomnia and stress, it should be combined with psychotherapy, to find out what causes discomfort in the person and how to fix it. Masking the symptom, in the long run, is not a good therapeutic option. You must work on the problem that generates it.

Bibliographic references

• Adam, A. and Prat, G. (2016). Psychopharmacology: Mechanism of action, effect and therapeutic management. Barcelona, ​​Spain. Marge Medica Books.