Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Withdrawal from benzodiazepines, a class of medications primarily used for treating anxiety, insomnia, and other neurological issues, is often fraught with a variety of symptoms. While many people are familiar with psychological symptoms such as anxiety, panic, and insomnia, the physical manifestations of withdrawal can also be daunting. One such discomfort many individuals experience is gastric pain and bloating, commonly referred to as “Benzo Belly.” This post explores the common constellation of symptoms comprising benzo belly and some coping tips.
What is Benzo Belly?
“Benzo Belly” is used colloquially to describe a constellation of digestive issues arising during benzodiazepine withdrawal. These may include, but are not limited to, gastric pain, gas, burning, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and indigestion. The symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe pain and significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. Often, tests do not reveal anything structurally or mechanically wrong. Doctors are perplexed as to what causes the intense bloating and pain. Some people’s bellies become so distended that they look nine months pregnant.
What helps:
- Eating smaller meals more frequently
- Focusing on plant-based foods for fiber and HDAC inhibitors that can help restore GABA receptors.
- Staying well hydrated
- Gentle stretching, Yoga, easy walking, and swimming
- Heating pad
- Gently (not too much pressure) massage the stomach area in a clockwise motion.
- Gentle full-body massage
- Glycerine suppositories, Fleet enemas, and stool softeners can help with severe constipation.
- Mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation exercises
- Some prebiotics
- Use with caution:
- Probiotics (they can rev up symptoms)
- Fermented foods (although very healthy and healing, can rev up some symptoms)
- Avoid, if possible:
- OTC antacids
- Pain meds
- Antibiotics
- Proton pump inhibitors (unless necessary)
- Spicy foods
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- GABAergic supplements
- GABAergic medications
Parasites
It’s been reported in the benzo community that parasites can cause severe gastro issues. One client has been treated for parasites and saw them pass out of their body and into the toilet! It is good to have a thorough check-up to rule out causes that we may not automatically think of.
The Neurobiological Connection
The complex relationship between the brain and gut is worth exploring to understand why gastric symptoms are prevalent during benzodiazepine withdrawal. Benzodiazepines work by acting on the GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) receptors in the brain, enhancing the inhibitory neurotransmitter’s effects and producing a calming sensation. These receptors are not exclusive to the brain; they are also found in the enteric nervous system, often called the “second brain,” which governs gastrointestinal function.
When benzodiazepines are withdrawn, the decreased activation of GABA receptors can send both the central and enteric nervous systems into a state of hyperactivity. This can manifest as changes in gut motility, spasms, and overall digestive dysfunction.
What helps:
Tapering off your benzo slowly, listening to your body, and being patient. A daily micro taper is sometimes the most gentle way to get benzo-free. YouTube videos are showing how to taper. You can also ask your doctor to compound your medication to reduce slowly. The Ashton Manual is the gold standard for tapering suggestions but is too fast for some individuals. It suggests crossing over to Valium, but now we don’t encourage that unless someone is having difficulties on a short-acting benzo.
Gut Microbiome: An Additional Layer
Recent research into the gut-brain axis suggests that our gut microbiome, the complex ecosystem of bacteria residing in our intestines, also plays a role in our neurological and psychological well-being. The alteration of gut flora, which medications like benzodiazepines can impact, may contribute to digestive issues and even exacerbate withdrawal symptoms. Scientists say that we are as healthy as our gut; that it is the foundation for all of our health, so it is essential that we take proper care of our gut. (The ‘gut’ starts at our mouth and ends at our anus— it includes the entire length of our digestive process.)
Nutritional Considerations
Since dietary choices significantly affect the gut microbiome, nutritional approaches to manage Benzo Belly are worth considering. A fiber-rich diet, pre and pro-biotics, and plant-based foods can alleviate some digestive symptoms. Some people report that taking digestive enzymes is helpful. Ensuring that your body metabolizes nutrients is important; blood tests can help determine if you have any deficiencies. Some people react to pro-biotic supplements and foods; test and learn how you respond.
Future Research and Conclusions
The mechanisms behind Benzo Belly are complex and still not fully understood. Ongoing neurobiology, psychology, and gut microbiome science research will likely offer more insights into managing these symptoms effectively. It’s critical to acknowledge the profound connection between our neurological and gastrointestinal systems and consider a holistic approach to treating benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms.
While gastric pain and Benzo Belly are uncomfortable and sometimes distressing, understanding the underlying mechanisms and potential interventions can empower you to take proactive steps toward relief. Always consult a licensed medical provider if you have any concerns about your gastro symptoms, but remember that they may not be benzo-wise.
We do recover from benzo withdrawal/BIND. Our stomachs deflate. Our intestines relax. Our bowels return to normal functioning. But we can help ourselves by embracing the four cornerstones of well-being: eat right, move enough, stress less, and love well.
Add Your Voice
What are your Benzo Belly symptoms? What has helped? Please leave a comment.
While I can appreciate most of what you’ve said eating lots of plants destroyed my gut even further due to the plant antinutrients and toxins. I had to go animal based to start healing my gut. Respectfully I would appreciate your presenting plant based as an optioninstead of a must for healing as many people are finding a meat based diet to be the most anti-inflammatory
Bloating gone after I cut out plants.
You mention above to use fermented foods with caution. I drink coconut milk kefir daily. Is that considered a fermented food that I should avoid while tapering?
Appreciate your info on this topic. I figured out the head/gut connection before I knew what was going on. If the head was bad, then the belly got worse. Initially in my withdrawal, I found the use of Gas-X pills to be helpful. Throughout my withdrawal I have found TummyDrops – peppermint to be helpful especially when my stomach acts up and I am trying to get to sleep. As for burning in the gut, at times hot soup or bone broth could help temporarily. The diet you mentioned is key. I live on oatmeal every morning and have consistently eaten the fruits and vegetables that you have mentioned. I am not sure if yogurt did any good. My main problem now is the big ”squeeze” as sufferers call it coming from the intestines that feels like it goes to your mouth. Someone said if felt like her whole body was in a squeeze. I seems to happen when my head feels worse, more pressure. I change positions, move around, go to the garden to try to ignore it. That and a bad head ( off balance – dizzy like), painful joints and some nerve burning makes me hope that all will calm down soon. I know that meds to relax muscles in the gut is out and have been told that it makes one’s head worse. I am making myself move though I can’t go far because of head being so off. I trust that the “squeeze” will subside when all of the head issues do.
The squeeze should go away as you recover. You might want to consider a veggie broth instead of bone broth. There are no scientific studies that prove bone broth heals the gut, but there are plenty that show high levels of lead. Hope you feel better soon!
If you are not reacting to it, then I’d keep eating it. Fermented foods are good for our gut.
A meat based diet is by nature, inflammatory. (https://nutritionfacts.org/video/foods-that-cause-inflammation) Please check out Dr. Micheal Greger’s website, nutritionfacts.org, or check out Dr Neal Barnard, Dr. Micheal Klapper, Dr. Milton Mills, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, etc. Bloat/gas isn’t inflammation. It’s a processing issue. It is caused from an imbalance in the gut. Meat eaters have a predominant bacteria that is gas-producing so when you add more fiber, especially legumes which ferment, you will have more gas than someone who eats a plant-based diet. Plant-based eaters have a much healthier predominate gut bacteria. It takes time for the gut to change the bacteria to the good ones that break down fiber without all the gas, pain, and bloating. Without plant fiber, our gut microbiome cannot be as healthy as it should be. You may want to check out Dr. Will Bulsiewicz. He is a gastroenterologist and a leading gut-microbiome researcher. His website, https://theplantfedgut.com is wonderful! I took his 7 week gut microbiome master class (and I became certified in plant-based nutrition from Cornell University). Will people heal from benzo withdrawal eating a meat based diet? Sure, eventually. We all heal. But will they go on to be the healthiest and happiest they could be? Probably not. Animal products are tied to heart disease, cancer, autoimmune disorders, type II diabetes and more. If an animal product diet was healthy, trust me, I’d be sharing everything I could about it. But it’s not. The heart association lists high meat diets as the worst for health. I know it’s hard to wrap our head around the idea that eating animal products isn’t healthy. We’ve all been brainwashed to think we need animal protein and milk. But that’s all based on marketing and profits, not on actual science. Here is a helpful link:
The Game Changers is a wonderful movie, as is Forks Over Knives. They can be found on most streaming platforms. This is an excellent video:
. I appreciate your comment. I am always happy to share information about nutrition. One thing that struck me when I went plant-based was one of the researchers saying that humans don’t have prey drives, but omnivore and carnivores do. That is so true! We don’t have the urge to chase after another animal and kill it and eat it on the spot. But omnivores and carnivores do! We’d be repulsed! And, if we don’t pasteurize or cook animal products, eggs, dairy, or meat, they can make us sick or even kill us. No other animal that eats other animals has to do that! If we think about it logically, we can see that animal products are not our intended food. Our bodies are designed to eat plants. You may want to check out my free course on the resource page of this website. It helps anyone who wants to explore a plant based diet slowly make the change in 30 days. I don’t recommend going plant based overnight as that will cause gas and bloating as your gut microbiome doesn’t have the predominate good bacteria needed to better break down the fiber.
Thank you for this post. I have struggled with digestive issues all of my life, before and while taking Klonopin, and during my withdrawal. From an energetic perspective, it seems important to understand that the gut is where we tend to hold emotion. I have noticed my digestive symptoms getting better as I learn to relax this area of my body through allowing myself to feel and express my anxiety and other emotions, whether through a “good cry,” a talk with a friend, or doing some yoga stretches that open my hips and abdomen. I have even found screaming in the shower or throwing rocks on the beach helpful! What I know is that when I hold my emotions in, they show up in my belly! For me, so much of benzo withdrawal has been a crash course in learning to actually accept, feel and express my emotions instead of holding them in. I’m convinced that all those years of severe constipation and stomach aches were emotions I pushed down. “Feel it to heal it” has become a motto for me.
Feel it to heal it—— so true! Glad you are finding your way.