Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are one of the most widely prescribed classes of drugs in the United States. They are used for immediate symptom relief of anxiety, epilepsy, spasticity due to CNS pathology, catatonia, and sleep disorders such as insomnia.
They are addictive and can cause serious side effects if you use them for long periods of time. They should only be taken for a short period of time and only under supervision by a doctor.
Drowsiness
Benzodiazepines are a class of antianxiety medications that affect chemical signals in your brain. These neurotransmitters control memory, muscle tone, blood pressure, heart rate and alertness.
They increase the activity of a natural substance in your body called GABA, which slows down the release of other neurotransmitters like adrenaline and dopamine. This allows a calmer, more restful state to occur.
Benzodiazepines are safe to use if they are prescribed by your doctor. However, they can lead to dependence and abuse if taken too often, at too high doses or for too long. They also can cause tolerance to develop, which means that you need more medication to get the same effect.
Withdrawal symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms are a natural reaction to the abrupt withdrawal of benzodiazepines, which can be more difficult to stop if you have been taking the drug for long periods of time. The most common benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms are anxiety and insomnia, but you may also experience muscle twitches, tingling in the arms or legs, nausea, vomiting and seizures.
These symptoms are more severe if you have been using a short-acting benzodiazepine, such as alprazolam or diazepam. However, a gradual reduction in your dose, called tapering, can help prevent the symptoms.
Another symptom that occurs with benzodiazepine withdrawal is rebound nightmares or vivid dreams. These are caused by a deficit in the brain’s REM (rapid eye movement) sleep rhythms. The deficit can be made up during a benzodiazepine withdrawal treatment, usually after about 4-6 weeks.
Paradoxical reactions
Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that bind to the GABAA receptor, reducing the quantity of GABA required to open the chloride channel and hyperpolarise the neuron.
Paradoxical reactions can occur when a benzodiazepine is administered at a dose that is higher than a person's personal threshold for a positive response. This can result in emotional lability, agitation, excessive movement, confusion and other symptoms that are the opposite of what the drug is intended to achieve.
These reactions are relatively rare and are not life-threatening, but they should be monitored. They should be treated promptly. They can also lead to a vicious cycle of titration and worsening side effects.
Contraindications
Benzodiazepines are a group of drugs that act on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain. These receptors slow the brain’s nervous system and have a sedative effect to help relieve anxiety.
The benzodiazepine drug diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and lorazepam (Ativan) are the most common medications prescribed for this purpose. Other benzodiazepine drugs include midazolam, oxazepam, and clonazepam.
They are usually used for sedation during procedures or treatments that last less than one hour, such as anesthesia. However, they can also be used to treat anxiety disorders and seizures.
Because benzodiazepines can have serious side effects, including addiction and withdrawal symptoms, they should not be taken in conjunction with other medicines, such as alcohol or opioids. Taking these drugs with these substances can cause an overdose or death.
Precautions
Benzodiazepines work by increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which slows down the nervous system and has a relaxing, sedative effect. They are also used to relieve anxiety when other drugs such as antidepressants haven’t been effective.
However, they should only be used for short-term treatment (up to four weeks in regular dosage) and only under a doctor’s supervision. Long-term use can lead to dependence, tolerance, abuse and withdrawal.
Benzodiazepines can also interact with other medications, including alcohol, antacids and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) which can increase the amount of benzodiazepines in your blood. It is important to tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking before using benzodiazepines.
