17 Feb List of Common Benzodiazepines + Uses & Side Effects

Other studies have shown that there is no correlation between BZD use and cognitive decline. One study showed that administration of BZD in patients with Alzheimer’s disease do not lead to further cognitive decline after 18 months of taking the drug [74]. The subjects in this study had mild to moderate Alzheimer’s dementia and showed no change in AD-Cog scores after treatment with BZD [74]. Interestingly, in this same study, SSRIs and atypical antipsychotics showed the same results; however, trazodone actually improved the NPI [75]. Given their lipid solubility, BZDs have a high volume of distribution in the body, which translates to higher tissue concentrations than blood. After exerting their effect, BZDs are metabolized primarily by the liver and excreted by conjugation, so they should be used in caution in the elderly, smokers, and those with liver disease or damage [3].

Studies within a trial or a review

• Regular use of BZDs has been shown to cause serious, harmful psychological and physical dependence, leading to withdrawal symptoms similar to that of alcohol withdrawal.
• Despite the increase in risk, less than 13% of the non-overdose deaths were trauma related.
• Anyone who has concerns about their prescription for a benzodiazepine can ask their doctor about alternative options.
• Remember that drug prices are subject to change at any time and may differ among pharmacies.
• They can guide you on what you can do to take your medications as prescribed and stay safe at the same time.

Benzodiazepines target and bind to a receptor in the brain and spinal cord called GABA-A by mimicking naturally occurring GABA. This is what causes the effects of CNS depression, like sleepiness and calmness. This receptor is a protein called gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA-A) receptor. Benzodiazepine drug molecules mimic the naturally occurring neurotransmitter GABA and bind to this receptor.

Medical uses

It is important to note that this study was uncontrolled, so further randomized controlled studies need to be performed to increase the validity of these results [71]. Benzodiazepines, often called “benzos,” are a commonly prescribed drug that is used to treat stress-related illnesses such as anxiety disorders and insomnia. Some people become dependent or addicted to these drugs through intentional misuse or by simply following a medical prescription. The intentional misuse of benzos can be more severe, as intense withdrawal symptoms can make it very difficult to reduce or eliminate dosage.

What are benzodiazepines used for?

• Neurotransmitters (your car key) can only fit into the right receptor (your car ignition).
• Patients should drink at least 2-3 litres of water per day during stimulant withdrawal.
• Because of its pharmacological action (partial opiate agonist), buprenorphine should only be given after the patient begins to experience withdrawal symptoms (i.e. at least eight hours after last taking heroin).
• To reduce the risk of relapse, patients should be engaged in psychosocial interventions such as described later in these guidelines.
• It is not recommended to increase the dose when symptoms worsen; instead, persist with the current dose until symptoms abate, then continue with the dose reduction schedule.
• Due to their rapid onset and immediate symptom relief, BZDs are used for those struggling with sleep, anxiety, spasticity due to CNS pathology, muscle relaxation, and epilepsy.
• It is essential to follow the doctor’s instructions for stopping the use of these drugs.

Anterograde amnesia is the loss of the ability to create new memories, leading to a partial or complete inability to recall the recent past. Several benzodiazepines are known to have this powerful amnesic effect; triazolam (Halcion) is notorious. Benzodiazepines should be used with extreme caution in the elderly due to the risk for excessive sedation, confusion, falls and fractures. If agitation persists and the patient cannot be adequately sedated with oral diazepam, transfer the patient to a hospital setting for psychiatric care. “Management of benzodiazepine misuse and dependence.” Australian prescriber vol.

Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment

Multivitamin supplements containing B group vitamins and vitamin C are recommended. Symptomatic medications should be offered as required for aches, anxiety and other symptoms. The first step in benzodiazepine withdrawal management is to stabilise the patient on an appropriate dose of diazepam. Calculate how much diazepam is equivalent to the dose of benzodiazepine that the patient currently uses, to a maximum of 40mg of diazepam (Table 8). All opioid dependent patients who have withdrawn from opioids should be advised that they are at increased risk of overdose due to reduced opioid tolerance. Should they use opioids, they must use a smaller amount than usual to reduce the risk of overdose.

As cannabis withdrawal is usually mild, no withdrawal scales are required for its management. Patients should be observed every three to four hours to assess for complications such as worsening anxiety and dissociation, which severe benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome may require medication. For up to a month after ceasing inhalant use, the patient may experience confusion and have difficulty concentrating. This should be taken into consideration in planning treatment involvement.

Do not try to engage the patient in counselling or other psychological therapy at this stage. A person in withdrawal may be vulnerable and confused; this is not an appropriate time to commence counselling. Patients should be allowed to sleep or rest in bed if they wish, or to do moderate activities such as walking.

• Catatonia presents in populations suffering from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or a variety of medical conditions.
• Inpatient rehab often lasts between 30 and 45 days, but the length varies for each client.
• Drowsiness, sleepiness, or dizziness are the most common side effects reported.
• Benzodiazepine rehab is an integral part of recovery from a substance use disorder.
• Each of these studies received mixed results, with no statistically significant advantage to BZD therapy.

A major disadvantage of benzodiazepines is that tolerance to therapeutic effects develops relatively quickly while many adverse effects persist. Regular use of BZDs has been shown to cause serious, harmful psychological and physical dependence, leading to withdrawal symptoms similar to that of alcohol withdrawal. Regular use of BZDs can lead to tolerance, which is the physiologic dependence on the presence of BZDs in the body’s system. This can be linked to addiction as the patient is not just psychologically addicted to the substance, which can be seen with cravings, and physical addiction. Withdrawal, like with alcohol since they exert their effects on similar receptors, can be life threatening.