Benzodiazepines, often referred to as “benzos” for short, are a prescription medication used as a sedative or tranquilizer. They first came into use in the 1960s, when the most well-known benzo—diazepam (brand name Valium)—was introduced to the market, along with some others like chlordiazepoxide (brand name Librium). They had considerably improved efficacy and safety over previous drugs used to treat anxiety and insomnia, the two primary conditions treated by benzodiazepines. Today, more than a dozen different benzos are available, though there have been an increasing number of alternative developed since the 1980s.
Your psychiatrist can advise you about benzodiazepines and whether they’re worth trying as a treatment for your symptoms. There are some significant concerns with their use, including but not limited to addiction and development of a tolerance. For this reason, benzos are generally prescribed for short-term use on an as-needed basis, not a regular basis; for long-term management of anxiety and panic disorders, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed instead.
Below is some basic information about benzodiazepines to provide you with an overview of this medication.
What Are Benzodiazepines Used to Treat?
Benzos are mainly prescribed to treat anxiety and panic disorders, as well as insomnia. They may be prescribed to manage these and other symptoms, such as unprovoked anger, in patients with bipolar disorder. In addition, benzodiaepines are also sometimes used to treat alcohol and drug withdrawal symptoms, severe muscle spasms, tremors, and seizures. They can also help with intense fear, such as may occur in some people before an operation or a flight.
How Do Benzodiazepines Help?
Benzos attach to neurotransmitters in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, making nerves in the brain less sensitive to stimuli. This has a calming effect on the central nervous system. In this way, benzodiazepines can help a person get to sleep and provide symptom relief by, for example, calming a manic episode, putting a stop to racing thoughts, or soothing agitation.
What Types of Benzos Are Available?
As noted above, there are many types and brands of benzodiazepines on the market today. These include:
- Diazepam (Valium, Zetran, Diazepam Intensol)
- Alprazolam (Xanax, Niravam, Alprazolam Intensol)
- Lorazepam (Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin)
- Clorazepate (Tranxene)
- Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
- Midazolam (Versed, Nayzilam, Seizalam)
- Estazolam (Prosom)
- Quazepam (Doral)
- Oxazepam (Serax)
- Flurazepam (Dalmane)
- Triazolam (Halcion)
- Temazepam (Restoril)
What Side Effects can Benzodiazepines Cause?
Benzos are considered relatively safe for short-term use as needed, especially as compared to many other tranquilizers and sedatives. Drowsiness and grogginess are the most common side effects. Higher doses may cause problems with coordination and/or balance. Certain benzos have been seen to impair memory and the ability to learn and retain new information. Older patients aged 65 and up tend to be more susceptible to these side effects.
What Are Other Concerns When Taking Benzos?
- Do not take benzos before driving, operating machinery, or any activity that requires focus and coordination until you are acquainted with how they affect you.
- Do not drink alcohol when taking a benzodiazepine, as this intensifies each substance’s effects and can cause a dangerous depression of the central nervous system.
- Benzodiazepines are known to be addictive; this is why they are prescribed for short-term, as-needed use. Patients may experience withdrawal symptoms, and should wean off this medication under their doctor’s direction.
- Patients can develop a tolerance to benzos fairly quickly, meaning it takes increasing doses to have the same effects. This phenomenon is often at play in the development of addiction, and is another reason benzos should not be used regularly or for a significant period of time.
- Pregnant women should not take benzodiazepines, as they can cause birth defects such as a cleft palate.
- Allergic reactions may occur.
- Benzos can interact with other drugs and supplements. Make sure your prescribing doctor is aware of all other prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and supplements you take.
Benzodiazepines, mara nyingi inajulikana kama <unk>benzos<unk> kwa kifupi, ni dawa ya dawa inayotumiwa kama dawa ya kutuliza au ya kutuliza. Kwa mfano, katika miaka ya 1960, dawa ya benzo-diazepam (Valium) ilianzishwa na kuanzishwa kwa dawa ya chlorhexidine (Librium). Dawa hizo zimeboresha sana ufanisi na usalama wake ikilinganishwa na dawa za zamani zilizotumiwa kutibu wasiwasi na kukosa usingizi, magonjwa mawili makuu yanayotibiwa na benzodiazepines. Kwa sasa, kuna zaidi ya benzo kadhaa tofauti zinazopatikana, ingawa idadi ya mbadala imezidi kuongezeka tangu miaka ya 1980. Daktari wako wa magonjwa ya akili anaweza kukushauri kuhusu benzodiazepines na kama wao ni thamani ya kujaribu kama matibabu kwa dalili zako. Kuna baadhi ya wasiwasi mkubwa na matumizi yao, ikiwa ni pamoja na lakini si mdogo kwa uraibu na maendeleo ya uvumilivu. Kwa sababu hii, benzos kwa ujumla huagizwa kwa matumizi ya muda mfupi kama inahitajika, sio kwa kawaida; kwa usimamizi wa muda mrefu wa wasiwasi na matatizo ya hofu, inhibitors za kuchagua serotonin reuptake (SSRI) kwa kawaida huagizwa badala yake. Chini ni baadhi ya habari ya msingi kuhusu benzodiazepines kukupa muhtasari wa dawa hii. Benzodiazepines Hutumika Kutibu Nini? Benzos hutolewa hasa kutibu wasiwasi na matatizo ya hofu, na vilevile kukosa usingizi. Dawa hizo zinaweza kuagizwa ili kudhibiti dalili hizo na nyingine, kama vile hasira isiyo na sababu, kwa wagonjwa walio na ugonjwa wa hisia-moyo. Kwa kuongezea, benzodiaepines pia hutumiwa wakati mwingine kutibu dalili za kuacha kunywa pombe na dawa za kulevya, mshtuko mkubwa wa misuli, kutetemeka, na mshtuko. Pia zinaweza kusaidia na hofu kali, kama vile ambayo yaweza kutokea kwa watu fulani kabla ya upasuaji au ndege. Dawa za Benzodiazepine Husaidiaje? Benzos huunganishwa na neurotransmitters katika ubongo inayoitwa gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, na kufanya neva katika ubongo kuwa chini ya nyeti kwa vichocheo. Hilo huwa na athari ya kutuliza kwenye mfumo wa neva wa kati. Kwa njia hii, benzodiazepines inaweza kusaidia mtu kupata usingizi na kutoa dalili misaada kwa, kwa mfano, kutuliza manic kipindi, kuweka mwisho wa mbio mawazo, au kutuliza msisimko. Ni Aina Zipi za Benzos Zinazopatikana? Kama ilivyotajwa hapo juu, kuna aina nyingi na bidhaa za benzodiazepines kwenye soko leo. Dawa za dawa za kulevya ni pamoja na: - Diazepam (Valium, Zetran, Diazepam Intensol) - Alprazolam (Xanax, Niravam, Alprazolam Intensol) - Lorazepam (Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol) - Clonazepam (Kopinlon) - Clorazepat (Tranxene) - Chloroxepoxide (Librium) - Midazolam (Versodia, Nayzidam, Estazolam) - Seizoprazolam (Prosom) - Quetzal (Doral) - Oxazepam (Serax) - Flurazepam (Dalmol) - Triazolam (Hal) - Temazepam (Restoril) - Ni athari gani za upande zinaweza kusababisha? Benzos huonwa kuwa salama kwa matumizi ya muda mfupi kama inahitajika, hasa ikilinganishwa na dawa nyingine nyingi za kutuliza na za kutuliza. Ulevi na kukosa fahamu ni athari za kawaida za ugonjwa huo. Kiasi cha juu cha dawa hiyo kinaweza kusababisha matatizo ya kuratibu na/au usawaziko. Benzos fulani zimeonekana kudhoofisha kumbukumbu na uwezo wa kujifunza na kukumbuka habari mpya. Wagonjwa wazee wenye umri wa miaka 65 na zaidi huwa na uwezekano mkubwa wa kupata athari hizi. Kuna Mambo Mengine Yanayohitaji Kujihadhari Yapo Unapotumia Benzos? - Usitumie benzos kabla ya kuendesha gari, kuendesha mashine, au shughuli yoyote inayohitaji umakini na uratibu mpaka uwe na ufahamu wa jinsi zinakuathiri. - Usinywe pombe wakati wa kuchukua benzodiazepine, kwani hii inaongeza athari za kila dutu na inaweza kusababisha unyogovu hatari wa mfumo wa neva kuu. - Benzodiazepines zinajulikana kuwa addictive; hii ni kwa nini wao ni kuagizwa kwa muda mfupi, kama inahitajika matumizi. Wagonjwa wanaweza kupata dalili za kuacha, na wanapaswa kuacha dawa hii chini ya uongozi wa daktari wao. - Wagonjwa wanaweza kuendeleza uvumilivu kwa benzos haraka sana, ikimaanisha inachukua kuongeza vipimo kuwa na athari sawa. Hii ni mara nyingi katika mchezo katika maendeleo ya ulevi, na ni sababu nyingine benzos haipaswi kutumika mara kwa mara au kwa muda mrefu. - Wanawake wajawazito hawapaswi kutumia benzodiazepines, kwa kuwa zinaweza kusababisha kasoro za kuzaliwa kama vile mlango uliogawanyika. - Matokeo ya mzio yanaweza kutokea. - Benzos inaweza kuingiliana na dawa nyingine na virutubisho. Hakikisha daktari wako anajua dawa zote za dawa na virutubisho unavyotumia.