Benzodiazepine
What Kind of Drug Is It?
Benzodiazepines (pronounced ben-zoh-die-AZ-uh-peens) are depressants that relieve anxiety. Their names are easy to recognize because many of them end in the suffix "-am." Some common benzodiazepines are alprazolam, diazepam, and lorazepam. Benzodiazepines are only available legally with a doctor's prescription.
A number of medical terms apply to benzodiazepines. Just like alcohol and BARBITURATES, benzodiazepines are classified as depressants because they slow down both the mind and the body. They are also considered SEDATIVE-HYPNOTIC AGENTS and tranquilizers because they reduce anxiety and promote sleep. Benzodiazepines can be addicting.
Overview
Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed in the treatment of ANXIETY DISORDERS, sleep disorders, and seizure conditions. They calm down users by acting on the brain to lower anxiety levels, relax muscles, and bring on sleep. Benzodiazepines were first used in the late 1950s. By the 1960s, physicians were regularly prescribing them to patients in place of barbiturates. Barbiturates, another class of depressants, can slow the breathing center of the brain to dangerously low levels. Benzodiazepines have less of an effect on breathing than barbiturates and are therefore considered safer. In addition, benzodiazepines are less likely to lead to death in cases of overdose.
The likelihood of addiction among benzodiazepine users did not become an issue until several years after their introduction.
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