Effects of benzodiazepines
The five primary effects that all benzodiazepines have are:- Hypnotic (to induce sleepiness);
- Anxiolytic (to reduce anxiety/produce relaxation);
- Anti-seizure (to reduce the probability of having seizures and convulsions);
- Muscle relaxant (to reduce muscle tension and associated pain);
- Amnesic (amnestic) (tending to disrupt both long and short term memory).
Diazepam (Valium),Lorazepam (ativan), Oxazepam (Serenid-d), Chlordiazepoxide (Librium), Medazepam (Nobrium), Alprazolam (Xanax), Clonazepam -- Klonopin (Rivotril), Bromazepam (Lexotan), Clobazam (Frisium), Clorazepate (Tranxene), Temazepam (Normison), Nitrazepam (Mogadon), Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), Flurazepam (Dalmane), Loprazolam(Dormonoct)
Risks of taking benzodiazapines - top of page
All benzodiazepines are addictive and can cause physical dependency . This can occur if they are taken daily for 2-4 weeks. As a result most are only prescribed for a short period. The body and brain become used to benzodiazepines resulting in an initial dose becoming less effective. This means that more will need to be taken to achieve the same effect. This is called tolerance.Benzodiazepines are a depressant and if taken with other depressive drugs like alcohol or opiates can lead to an accidental overdose.
Some tranquillizers have been shown to cause short-term memory loss.
There's been a big increase in sex crime involving tranquillisers like rohypnol. Victims' drinks are spiked with the drug, knocking them into an often paralysed stupor so they're either unaware of or unable to prevent a sexual assault.
Injecting crushed tablets or melted down gel capsules is extremely dangerous and sometimes fatal. The chalk in tablets is a major cause of collapsed veins which can lead to infection and abscess. Injecting gel capsules can also be fatal when the gel solidifies inside the blood vessels.
Benzodiazapine dependence and addiction - top of page
Benzodiazepines are highly addictive. It is likely that you will be dependant on a benzodiazepine if you take it for more than four weeks. This means that withdrawal symptoms occur if the tablets are stopped suddenly.Benzodiazepine withdrawal - top of page
Possible withdrawal symptoms include: anxiety, panic attacks, odd sensations, feelings of being "outside" the body, feelings of unreality, or confusion. In some cases the withdrawal symptoms seem like the original anxiety symptoms.Physical symptoms such as sweating, inability to sleep, headache, tremor, tinnitus, feeling sick, palpitations, muscle spasms, and being oversensitive to light, sound and touch. Rarely, convulsions occur.
Sudden withdrawal after big doses can cause fits therefore detoxification should be done under medical supervision.
The duration of withdrawal symptoms varies, but often lasts up to six weeks and sometimes longer. Withdrawal symptoms may not start for two days after stopping the tablet, and tend to be worst in the first week or so. Some people have minor residual withdrawal symptoms for several months.