Benzos are responsible for a shocking number of ER visits in the last few years.
Many people end up with severe panic attacks, often resembling heart-attacks.
Some have seizures.
In my experience only a FEW DAYS on benzos is enough to cause emotional problems.
For my wife, a SINGLE dose pretty much guarantees a problem the next day.
Long-term cannabis use may be a major factor.
I would expect you to have some rebound effects if you stop now.
You should try and see, that way you can answer your own question.
What you may not expect is how insidious the withdrawal is.
It comes from SO deep inside you that you won't even understand what has happened until it is over!
While it is going on, it will feel like a completely natural thought process with justifiable anger.
Only after it peaks and wears off will you recognize the chemical imbalance that occurred.
Benzos increase GABA, which suppresses glutamate.
This causes glutamate to compensate.
When benzos are withdrawn, the brain finds itself with TOXIC levels of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter.
At high levels it can kill neurons.
The seizure is a defense mechanism by the brain, which releases nerve growth factors.
These proteins allow neurons to survive otherwise lethal conditions.
But they may allow for the re-wiring of circuits critical to memory.
Short and long-term memory impairment is seen with ECT, but is rare.
The seizures are controlled and last around two minutes - your friend may have seized for much longer.
Tell him that with ECT induced seizures and memory loss, there is sometimes substantial recovery.
Typically it takes only a few days or weeks, but some patients continue to regain memories over a period of months or even years!
He should have been given a benzo at the hospital to prevent seizure.
Benzos HAVE to be tapered, esp. when the daily intake is retarded.
He needs to exercise daily, as this improves brain recovery in a very substantial way.
Even though you are not taking stupid amounts, you should EXPECT problems soon.
You won't have seizures, but you may be quite surprised just how PISSED off and CRAZY you become.
And you won't know it until you stop taking it.
Nobody can give you a concrete answer on what will happen to you, I'm afraid.
