However, medical professionals have become concerned about their risks, particularly when they are used for a long time. Benzodiazepines can cause a person to overdose, particularly when used with alcohol or other drugs.
They are associated with dependence and withdrawal symptoms, even after a short period of use which is why benzodiazepines are not the first option for pharmacological treatment of insomnia, anxiety or other health concerns. There are three types of benzodiazepines: long, intermediate and short-acting.
Benzodiazepines are known by their chemical generic name or their brand name. Some common benzodiazepines are:. Ontario: Addiction Research Foundation. There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries some risk. Injecting drugs repeatedly and sharing injecting equipment with other people increases the risk of experiencing these effects. Benzodiazepines are not recommended for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as they are associated with pre-term delivery, low birth weight and potential birth defects.
Benzodiazepines are often present in patients who have intentionally or accidentally overdosed. If you take a large amount, you could overdose. There is some evidence that long-term, heavy use of benzodiazepines is a risk factor for epilepsy, stroke and brain tumours.
The use of benzodiazepines to help with the come down effects of stimulant drugs such as amphetamines or ecstasy may result in a cycle of dependence on both types of drug. Giving up benzodiazepines after a long time is challenging because the body has to get used to functioning without them.
If taking benzodiazepines is suddenly stopped, sudden withdrawal can cause seizures. Withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person and are different depending on the type of benzodiazepine being taken. Symptoms can last from a few weeks to a year and can include:. Glass, J. L, Herrmann, N. Hibell, B. Hindmarch, J. King, L. Moffat, A. Royal College of Psychiatrists , Benzodiazepines: risks, benefits or dependence.
Sadock, B. Home Publications Drug profiles. Benzodiazepines drug profile Benzodiazepines drug profile. Chemistry Physical form Pharmacology Sexual assaults and other crimes Synthesis Mode of use Other names Analysis Control status Availability of pharmaceutical benzodiazepines Publications Bibliography More drug profiles. Availability of pharmaceutical benzodiazepines The INCB reported that in , total global licit production of benzodiazepines amounted to at least metric tonnes, 56 tonnes of which was diazepam.
Benzodiazepines are a widely prescribed group of medicines used to treat anxiety and insomnia and to manage alcohol withdrawal. A growing number of benzodiazepines which are not approved medicines within the European Union, such as flubromazolam or flubromazepam, have been sold at street level and This report provides a technical review of the current body of knowledge regarding new benzodiazepines that are monitored by the EU Early Warning System. The aims of this report are to strengthen situational awareness of new benzodiazepines in Europe, and to help stakeholders prepare for and Focusing on illicit drug use, related harms and drug supply, the report contains a comprehensive set of national data across these themes and key harm reduction interventions.
This report provides an update on drug-related deaths in Europe based primarily on presentations and discussions held at the meeting of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction EMCDDA expert network on drug-related deaths. The meeting brought together experts and Since early , the COVID pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the way we live, with European countries having to introduce unprecedented measures to protect public health.
As with all areas of life, drug consumption, related harms and drug markets have been impacted, as have the services The report covers the period until October and this year focuses on Since the start of , European countries have been experiencing an unprecedented public health threat with the emergence of the coronavirus disease COVID Benzodiazepines alter the activity of the neurons that trigger stress and anxiety reactions. The type of benzodiazepine will determine the potential uses. Doctors may also prescribe these drugs off-label for various other conditions and issues, including:.
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effect of a neurotransmitter known as gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that communicate messages between brain cells.
These messages can have either a stimulating or a calming effect. GABA is a neurotransmitter that sends calming messages to the body. When a person feels anxious, overstimulation occurs in the brain.
When people take benzodiazepines, the brain will send messages to counter this overstimulation. This activity can reduce the symptoms of anxiety. There are many different benzodiazepines. They differ in terms of potency, how quickly the body absorbs them, and their uses. This table shows some examples and their uses:. The side effects of benzodiazepine use may include :. More serious effects include:. A wide range of withdrawal symptoms can occur when stopping benzodiazepines.
They include:. Experts do not recommend using benzodiazepines for more than 2 weeks. A person who uses them for 3—4 weeks and then stops suddenly is likely to experience withdrawal symptoms.
People who use them in the long term may need to withdraw their use over a 3—12 month period that their doctor should oversee. Stopping slowly with professional help can prevent unwanted effects.
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