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I thought stopping would help

Illustrated Story B34, with a text transcript.

Read story B34: I thought stopping would help (image and text)
Six-panel illustrated story, I thought stopping would help. Ross stops a benzodiazepine he takes regularly for anxiety. Shaking and little sleep are followed by sudden confusion. His partner calls for urgent help and explains the medicine change. A doctor says the timing suggests withdrawal delirium, treats him urgently and checks other causes. Later changes are planned with clinical support. Footer: Sudden confusion after stopping medicines may be delirium. Get urgent help.

Benzodiazepines are medicines that may be used for anxiety or sleep. Stopping one suddenly after regular use can cause dangerous symptoms, including delirium. This can happen with prescribed use; the body becoming used to a medicine is not the same as addiction.

If someone becomes suddenly confused after a medicine change, get urgent medical help and explain what they have taken and when it changed. Do not try to manage delirium at home by adjusting the dose yourself. Planned reductions need advice and further checks suited to the person.

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Story text

  1. Panel 1.

    • Ross: I thought I could just stop the tablets.

  2. Panel 2. Shaking, little sleep, then sudden confusion.

  3. Panel 3. Jamie calls for urgent medical help.

  4. Panel 4.

    • Jamie: He suddenly stopped a benzodiazepine he takes regularly for anxiety.

  5. Panel 5.

    • Doctor: The timing suggests withdrawal delirium. We’re treating him urgently and checking for other causes.

  6. Panel 6. Later, medicine changes are planned with clinical support.

Bottom band. Sudden confusion after stopping medicines may be delirium. Get urgent help.

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