When COVID Meets BIND: How Does Long COVID Affect Benzo Withdrawal?

What happens when COVID meets BIND? What happens when someone in protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal gets long COVID? Does it set off a wave? Does it make their benzo symptoms worse? Tune in for answers and more.

In today’s episode, we explore COVID and benzodiazepine withdrawal (BIND). We also look at endogenous benzodiazepines, hear two benzo stories of success, and visit the launch of our new website and social media feeds. I hope you find it helpful.

https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/when-covid-meets-bind-how-does-long-covid-affect-benzo-withdrawal-bfp113

Podcast ID: BFP113

Chapters

0:00:00 INTRODUCTION

0:03:10 Podcast Anniversary

0:05:15 MAILBAG

0:05:52 Endogenous Benzodiazepines

0:07:21 Benzodiazepines in Potatoes

0:09:44 BENZO SPOTLIGHT

0:10:47 About the New Website

0:12:48 Member Community on EA

0:14:55 About Membership Tiers

0:17:21 Our Handle / YouTube

0:19:29 Social Media

0:23:47 BENZO STORIES

0:24:08 Ted’s Story

0:27:08 Judith’s Story

0:30:41 FEATURE: COVID and Benzos

0:34:11 D’s COVID Experience

0:38:57 Jennifer: Could the vaccine be a trigger?

0:40:33 Dan: COVID, Flu, and a Big Wave

0:41:37 Jürg: COVID Setback?

0:45:14 Annette: COVID Constriction

0:46:36 Chuck: A Medical Perspective

0:49:11 Benzos and COVID Immunity

0:50:13 Benzos and COVID Drugs

0:51:12 Benzos and COVID Hospitalization

0:52:11 Long COVID and BIND

0:54:28 Long COVID Digestion Issues

0:56:30 Neurological Effects of COVID

0:58:53 COVID and Dysphagia (Swallowing)

1:00:10 Long COVID Frequency

1:00:53 My Theory / Summation

1:01:58 Finding Hope

1:04:46 CLOSING

Resources

The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Easing Anxiety of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein.

COVID Articles

• BIND Symptoms. Easing Anxiety. https://easinganxiety.com/symptoms.
• COVID-19 (& Benzos). Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC). https://www.benzoinfo.com/covid-19/.
• COVID-19: Long-term effects. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-long-term-effects/art-20490351.
• Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html.

Podcast Episodes on COVID

• Anxiety, Benzos, and a Virus. Episode 61. March 17, 2020. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/anxiety-benzos-and-a-virus-bfp061.
• COVID and Benzos: Immunity, Vaccines, Symptoms. Episode 80. April 28, 2021. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/covid-and-benzos-immunity-vaccines-symptoms-bfp080.

Videos on COVID

• 10 Anxiety Tips for Dealing with Relationships during COVID. Video #20. September 24, 2020. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/10-anxiety-tips-for-dealing-with-relationships-during-covid.
• 3 Basic Anxiety Tips amid COVID-19. Video #3. April 3, 2020. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/3-basic-anxiety-tips-amid-covid-19.
• Anxiety and the Loss of Control During COVID-19. Video #5. April 11, 2020. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/anxiety-and-the-loss-of-control-during-covid-19.
• Anxiety, Overwhelm, COVID & a Trip to Estes Park. Video #18. August 20, 2020. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/anxiety-overwhelm-covid-a-trip-to-estes-park-vlog-7.
• Anxiety Rising: The Hidden Hardship of COVID-19. Video #10. May 20, 2020. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/anxiety-rising-the-hidden-hardship-of-covid-19-vlog-1.

REFERENCES

• Ashton, C. Heather. Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw (aka The Ashton Manual). 2002. Accessed April 13, 2016. http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual.
• Avallone R, Zeneroli ML, Venturini I, Corsi L, Schreier P, Kleinschnitz M, Ferrarese C, Farina F, Baraldi C, Pecora N, Frigo M, Baraldi M. Endogenous benzodiazepine-like compounds and diazepam binding inhibitor in serum of patients with liver cirrhosis with and without overt encephalopathy. Gut. 1998 Jun;42(6):861-7. doi: 10.1136/gut.42.6.861. PMID: 9691927; PMCID: PMC1727144. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1727144/.
• Baraldi M, Avallone R, Corsi L, Venturini I, Baraldi C, Zeneroli ML. Endogenous benzodiazepines. Therapie. 2000 Jan-Feb;55(1):143-6. PMID: 10860017. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10860017/.
• Chang, M.-P., Steven C. Castle, Dean C. Norman. Suppressive effects of alprazolam on the immune response of mice. International Journal of Immunopharmacology. Volume 13, Issues 2–3. 1991. Pages 259-266. ISSN 0192-0561. https://doi.org/10.1016/0192-0561(91)90106-H.
• Foster, D E. Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, CO: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. https://www.benzofree.org/book.
• “Hepatic Encephalopathy.” Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21220-hepatic-encephalopathy. Accessed 11 Mar. 202.
• Hoertel, N. et al. Association between benzodiazepine receptor agonist use and increased mortality among patients hospitalized for COVID-19: results from an observational study. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. medRxiv 2021.02.18.21252004. February 20, 2021. Accessed March 11, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.02.18.21252004.
• Mullen KD, Jones EA. Natural benzodiazepines and hepatic encephalopathy. Semin Liver Dis. 1996 Aug;16(3):255-64. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1007238. PMID: 8989811. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8989811/.
• Samudyata, Carl Sellgren. Long COVID: how lost connections between nerve cells in the brain may explain cognitive symptoms. The Conversation. October 28, 2022. Accessed March 11, 2023. https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/long-covid-how-lost-connections-between-nerve-cells-brain-may-explain-cognitive.
• Shah K, Kamrai D, Srinivas S, et al. Benzodiazepine interaction with COVID-19 drugs. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2021;23(6):21br03081. https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.21br03081.
• Washington University in St. Louis. Long COVID Means Increased Risk of Long-Term Gastrointestinal Problems. SciTech Daily. March 8, 2023. Accessed March 11, 2023. https://scitechdaily.com/long-covid-means-increased-risk-of-long-term-gastrointestinal-problems/.
• Wildmann, Johannes, Walter Vetter, Urs B. Ranalder, Karl Schmidt, Res Maurer, Hanns Möhler, Occurrence of pharmacologically active benzodiazepines in trace amounts in wheat and potato. Biochemical Pharmacology,Volume 37, Issue 19,1988,Pages 3549-3559, ISSN 0006-2952, https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-2952(88)90384-X.

The Podcast

The Benzo Free Podcast provides information, support, and community to those who struggle with the long-term effects of anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium) and Z-drugs (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata).

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DISCLAIMER

All content provided by Easing Anxiety is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Any health-related information provided is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems, or to prescribe any medical devices or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it. Please visit our ...