What is benzodiazepine for?

Have you ever felt anxious, stressed out or like your heart is about to jump out of your chest because of a certain situation? Or maybe you have had trouble sleeping for days and there seems to be no end in sight? If the answer is yes, then benzodiazepines might just be what the doctor ordered!

Benzodiazepines are some of the most commonly used medications used to treat mental health disorders such as anxiety and insomnia. They work by slowing down our Central Nervous System (CNS) which makes us feel more relaxed from all that worrying going on inside our heads.

But before we continue this article any further, let’s first answer the question,

What Are Benzodiazepines?

Simply put, benzodiazepines (benzos) refer to psychoactive drugs that belong to a class known as anxiolytics. These drugs interact with GABA receptors in the brain causing them to release neurotransmitters that lead you feeling calmed down, relaxed and sleepy [1]. Sounds amazing right? Well wait till I tell you how they actually do their job!

How Do Benzodiazepines Work In The Body

Neurons communicate via chemical messengers called neurotransmitters which play a crucial role in transmitting signals throughout our body. One important neurotransmitter found in highest concentration within our CNS is GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid).

Now, remember benzos are GABA agonist meaning they increase GABA activity thereby inhibiting neurone excitability across multiple regions of the brain responsible for regulating mood swings, emotions(such as anxiety) , seizures and so much more.

Fun fact: did you know according 2018 statistics report by SAMHSA [2], millions visit emergency departments yearly due to drug overdose- majority being benzo overdoses -Talk about convenience over safety.

Benzodiazepines Other CNS Depressants
Xanax Alcohol
Valium Opioids

Types of Benzodiazepines

Now you ask, which benzodiazepine is the right one for me? Not to worry fam, I gotcha!

Individuals react differently to various types of Benzos hence it’s vital to have a doctor perform an evaluation and prescribe medication best suited for your symptoms.

Short-acting Benzodiazepines

These mainly offer quick but short relief lasting 4 -6 hours with higher potential for abuse due their rapid onset effects [3].

Examples: Alprazolam(Xanax), Lorazepam(Ativan)

Intermediate- acting Benzodiazepines

This group offers relief from symptoms that last longer approximately up to 8 hours making them a popular choice among practitioners dealing generalized anxiety disorders (GAD) [3]

Examples: Diazepam(Valium), Clonazaepam(Klonopin)

## Conditions Treated Using Benzodiazepines
Now that we understand how benzos work in our body systems as well as what makes them exceptional let’s dive into areas where they can be useful!

### Anxiety Disorders.
Anxiety manifests in many forms which include panic attacks, fears and phobias causing individuals suffering this menace sometimes not even get out of bed scared white [5]. In such instances benzodiazapenes provide some pretty good fast temporary relief thanks to their binding nature on GABA receptors that slow neural activities relieving worries thus promoting increased calmness within reasonable timeframe depending on the severity of the condition.

Do note however these drugs aren’t meant for long term use given tolerance build up over time could cause dependency issues leading towards addiction/withdrawal symptoms [6].

### Sleep Disorders
There’s no falling asleep like deep sleep, I know right? However some of us have trouble achieving this desired state due various reasons such as insomnia indicated by difficulty sleeping throughout the night or trouble falling asleep in the first place [7].

Thanks to their duration of effects leading towards sedation, practitioners commonly prescribe Intermediate-acting benzos for short-term relief usually lasting between two and four weeks.

Tip: It is however worth noting that overconsumption may lead to daytime grogginess/ impair longterm memory hence it is advisable to stick to dosages assigned by your doctor.

Benzos Use Dosage Recommendation
Anxiety 1mg 3x daily (Xanax) 0.5 mg -2 mg a day( Ativan)

Insomnia |Between 2-4 weeks’ prescription allowed

Side Effects Of Benzodiazepines

As with all drugs on this planet side-effects are bound be present within any health intervention.This holds true especially for benzodiapenes usage where:

  • Drowsy feeling.
  • Memory problems/difficulty thinking clearly.
  • Confusion seen in elderly patients,
    lead the stack sheet[8]. Remember these side effects might not manifest fully or severely dependent amongst variables like age, dose size,length of use among others and therefore require an individuals response.. Do always make sure you communicate any new symptoms/incidences experienced while taking your medication.

Risks Posed By Using Benzodiazepines

Sometimes when ingested frequently one’s dependency levels eventually build up meaning sudden withdrawal could lead disturbing complications causing detrimentally harm most common including seizures [9].

Another issue must also factor into account – combined abuse/misuse alongside opiates/alcohol posing even more risk if taken concurrently drastically increases our probability overdosing which can potentially be fatal[10]!

Conclusion

So there you have it folks! Benzodiazepines- The drug family which offers assistance in the hustle of keeping a calm mind yet hides behind unforgiving side effects. Be sure to consult your specialist before embarking on any self-medication nor sharing medication as every individual’s body response differs therefore more caution does us good here.

As for me, I’ll stick to my weighted blanket and squeeze toys because ain’t no dose surpasses infinite hugging [11] .

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