OFFICIAL NAMES: Alprazolam (Xanax), chlorazepate (Tranxene) chlordiazepoxide (Librium, Novopoxide), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium, Vivol), estazolam (ProSom), flurazepam (Dalmane, Novoflupam, Somnol), flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), halazepam (Paxipam), lorazepam (Ativan), nitrazepam (Mogadon), oxazepam (Serax), prazepam (Centrax), quazepam (Doral), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion)

STREET NAMES: Roofies, tranks, downers, benzos, goofballs, Mexican, roach, heavenly blues, valo, stupefy, date rape, anxiety

DRUG CLASSIFICATIONS: Schedule IV, depressant

Overview

Although they have been used for over 30 years, benzodiazepines are still widely prescribed in the treatment of anxiety disorders and other medical conditions. These drugs are classified as sedative-hypnotic agents, which depress or slow down the body. In the past 15 years, the development of the newer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for the treatment of depression and anxiety have pushed benzodiazepines aside as the first treatment choice because the SSRIs as a class of drugs have not yet been found to be...