Toward clarifying ASAM’s inpatient and residential benzodiazepine tapering recommendations

To address the lack of evidence-based strategies for safely deprescribing benzodiazepines and clarify recommendations in the ASAM Guidelines.

Inpatient care should focus on stabilization, with outpatient tapering often necessary.
Insurance barriers can lead to misdiagnosis and incomplete tapers.
The term 'severe or complicated withdrawal' is ambiguous and needs definition.
Guidance on phenobarbital use for tapering is insufficient.
Protracted withdrawal symptoms are often unrecognized and require careful follow-up.

The ASAM Guidelines require revisions to prevent misinterpretation and ensure patient safety during benzodiazepine tapering.

Current guidelines rely heavily on clinical consensus rather than empirical data.
Lack of clear definitions and practical guidance may lead to inconsistent clinical practices.

Revisions to the ASAM Guidelines are necessary to enhance clarity and support safe benzodiazepine tapering practices.