AUDIENCE: INTRODUCTORY

Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering

Learn how to determine when the risks of continued Benzodiazepine prescribing outweigh the benefits for a given patient, and how to safely taper the medication when indicated in various settings.

About This Education

Based on the Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering, this education program equips healthcare providers with knowledge and tools to safely and effectively manage benzodiazepine tapering.

What You'll Learn 

 After completing this education, learners will be able to:  

  1.  Apply key clinical takeaways and strategies for safely tapering benzodiazepines as outlined in the Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering.   
  2. Conduct risk-benefit assessments to inform tapering strategies and implement close monitoring and adjustments based on a patient’s response during tapering.   
  3. Employ a collaborative, patient-centered approach to actively engage patients in care decisions.  
  4. Differentiate between benzodiazepine physical dependence and benzodiazepine use disorder when developing individualized care plans.    
  5. Adapt tapering strategies to individual patient needs, including managing withdrawal symptoms and addressing co-occurring mental health or substance use conditions.  
  6. Utilize motivational interviewing and communication strategies to enhance patient engagement, address concerns, and support safe, effective, and patient-centered benzodiazepine tapering.   

Featured Education

  • Considerations for Benzodiazepine Tapering
    Contains 6 Component(s), Includes Credits
    Component Credit Type State/Medical Type Available Credits Earned Credits
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Physician 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Nurse/NP 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical PA 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Pharmacist 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Counselor 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Non-Physician 1.00 0.00

    In this webinar recording, Donovan Maust, MD, MS, highlights key takeaways from The Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering and strategies to support safe, individualized tapers.

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      • ASAM Staff - Free!
      • International Member - Free!
      • Emeritus Member - Free!
      • Provisional Member - Free!
      • Fellow Member - Free!
      • Honorary Member - Free!
      • CRT Member - Free!

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  • Benzodiazepine Tapering for Older Adults
    Contains 6 Component(s), Includes Credits
    Component Credit Type State/Medical Type Available Credits Earned Credits
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Physician 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Nurse/NP 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical PA 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Pharmacist 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Counselor 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Non-Physician 1.00 0.00

    In this webinar recording, Marcia Mecca, MD, discusses benzodiazepine tapering in older adults, focusing on care decisions, shared decision-making, and risks of long-term use.

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      • Non-Member - Free!
      • Regular Member - Free!
      • Retired - Free!
      • Early Career Physician - Free!
      • Resident - Free!
      • Student - Free!
      • Associate - Free!
      • ASAM Staff - Free!
      • International Member - Free!
      • Emeritus Member - Free!
      • Provisional Member - Free!
      • Fellow Member - Free!
      • Honorary Member - Free!
      • CRT Member - Free!

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  • Considerations for Tapering Benzodiazepine in Primary Care
    Contains 6 Component(s), Includes Credits
    Component Credit Type State/Medical Type Available Credits Earned Credits
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Physician 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Nurse/NP 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical PA 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Pharmacist 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Counselor 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Non-Physician 1.00 0.00

    In this webinar recording, Chinyere Ogbonna, MD, MPH, and Amy VandenBerg, PharmD, BCPP, FAAPP, offer guidance to primary care providers on managing benzodiazepine tapering, addressing common challenges, and withdrawal management.

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      • Non-Member - Free!
      • Regular Member - Free!
      • Retired - Free!
      • Early Career Physician - Free!
      • Resident - Free!
      • Student - Free!
      • Associate - Free!
      • ASAM Staff - Free!
      • International Member - Free!
      • Emeritus Member - Free!
      • Provisional Member - Free!
      • Fellow Member - Free!
      • Honorary Member - Free!
      • CRT Member - Free!

      Continue

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  • Addressing Benzodiazepine Tapering Challenges
    Product not yet rated Contains 6 Component(s), Includes Credits
    Component Credit Type State/Medical Type Available Credits Earned Credits
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Physician 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Nurse/NP 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical PA 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Pharmacist 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Counselor 1.00 0.00
    Claim Credit & Certificate Medical Non-Physician 1.00 0.00

    In this case-based webinar recording, Dr. Emily Brunner, MD, and Dr. Maryann Amirshahi, PharmD, MD, MPH, PhD, provide strategies for managing complex benzodiazepine tapers, including personalized plans and effective communication.

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      • Non-Member - Free!
      • Regular Member - Free!
      • Retired - Free!
      • Early Career Physician - Free!
      • Resident - Free!
      • Student - Free!
      • Associate - Free!
      • ASAM Staff - Free!
      • International Member - Free!
      • Emeritus Member - Free!
      • Provisional Member - Free!
      • Fellow Member - Free!
      • Honorary Member - Free!
      • CRT Member - Free!

      Continue

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ASAM Clinical Tips: Benzodiazepine Tapering Education

This microlearning video series offers patient-centered strategies for benzodiazepine tapering, including engaging patients in treatment discussions, addressing frequently asked questions, considering co-occurring conditions, and managing recurrence of symptoms throughout the tapering process.

  • Patient Engagement in Benzodiazepine Tapering: (Video: 15 min 12 sec) In this video, Chinyere Ogbonna, MD, MPH, shares practical strategies for engaging patients in conversations about tapering benzodiazepines, discussing risk-benefit analysis, motivational interviewing techniques, and tips for fostering empathetic, patient-centered discussions around their treatment. References 
  • Benzodiazepine Tapering with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Conditions: (Video: 8 min 21 sec) In this video, Donovan Maust, MD, MS, discusses key considerations when tapering benzodiazepines in patients with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions; providing individualized, patient-centered strategies to support safe and effective care. References 
  • Managing Symptoms During Benzodiazepine Tapering: (Video: 13 min 17 sec) Amy VandenBerg, PharmD, BCPP, FAAPP, outlines strategies to manage symptoms during benzodiazepine tapering, focusing on minimizing withdrawal, addressing individual risk, and using pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic alternatives to support discontinuation. References 
  • Commonly Encountered Patient FAQs in Tapering Benzodiazepines: (Video: 10 min 29 sec) In this video, Deanna Najera, MPAS, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA, answers commonly asked patient questions about benzodiazepine tapering, offering practical, evidence-based strategies to support collaborative, safety-focused conversations that lead to successful tapering outcomes. References 

A Patient’s Guide to Tapering Benzodiazepines

This patient-facing infographic poster is intended for healthcare providers to share with patients, highlighting the use and risks of benzodiazepines, including their prevalence, the difference between dependence and addiction, and basic principles of tapering. 

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Acknowledgement

The development of this Guideline was generously funded by grant U01FD007804 from the US Food and Drug Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of nor an endorsement by the FDA and Department of Health and Human Services or the US Government. The funders had no decision-making role in designing and conducting the systematic reviews, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data or approval privilege on the recommendations. As requested, FDA officers provided nonbinding feedback and technical support to the guideline panel and methodological team. This article was peer reviewed before publication. These guidelines are intended to help inform clinical decision making by prescribers and patients. They are not intended to be used for the purposes of restricting, limiting, delaying, or denying coverage for or access to a prescription issued for a legitimate medical purpose by an individual practitioner acting in the usual course of professional practice.