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BENZODIAZEPINE
Gabriel J. Thompson
TYPE OF DRUG
A benzodiazepine also
known as “BENZO" or
“DIAZEPAM” is a
psychoactive drug.
HISTORY
The first such drug, chlordiazepoxide,
was discovered accidentally by Leo
Sternbach in 1955, and made available
in 1960 by Hoffmann–La Roche, which
has also marketed Valium since 1963.
Benzodiazepines act by enhancing the actions
of a natural brain chemical, GABA (gammaaminobutyric acid). GABA is a
neurotransmitter, an agent which transmits
messages from one neuron to another. The
message that GABA transmits is an inhibitory
one: it tells the neurons that it contacts to slow
down or stop firing. Since about 40% of the
millions of neurons all over the brain respond
to GABA, this means that GABA has quite an
influence on the brain: it is in some ways the
body's natural hypnotic and tranquilliser.
This natural action of GABA is augmented by
benzodiazepines which thus exert an extra
(often excessive) inhibitory influence on
neurons.
COMMON AND
GENERIC NAMED
BENZODIAZEPINES
Alprazolam-Helex, Xanax, Xanor, Onax, Alprox, Restyl,
Tafil, Paxal
Bretazenil
Bromazepam-Lectopam, Lexotanil, Lexotan, Bromam
Brotizolam-Lendormin, Dormex, Sintonal, Noctilan
Estazolam-ProSom
Nimetazepam-Erimin
Ethyl loflazepate-Victan, Meilax, Ronlax
Nitrazepam-Mogadon, Alodorm, Pacisyn,
Etizolam-Etilaam, Pasaden, Depas
Dumolid, Nitrazadon
Flunitrazepam-Rohypnol, Hipnosedon, Vulbegal, Fluscand,
Nordazepam-Madar, Stilny
Flunipam, Ronal, Rohydorm,
Oxazepam-Seresta, Serax, Serenid, Serepax,
Flurazepam-Dalmadorm, Dalmane
Sobril, Oxabenz, Oxapax, Opamox
Flutoprazepam-Restas
Phenazepam
Halazepam-Paxipam
Pinazepam-Domar
Ketazolam-Anxon
Prazepam-Lysanxia, Centrax
Loprazolam-Dormonoct
Premazepam
Lorazepam-Ativan, Lorenin, Lorsilan, Temesta, Tavor,
Pyrazolam
Lorabenz
Quazepam-Doral
Lormetazepam-Loramet, Noctamid, Pronoctan
Temazepam-Restoril, Normison, Euhypnos,
Medazepam-Nobrium
Temaze, Tenox
Chlordiazepoxide-Librium, Risolid, Elenium
Cinolazepam-Gerodorm
Clonazepam-Rivotril, Rivotril, Klonopin, Iktorivil, Paxam
Clorazepate-Tranxene, Tranxilium
Clotiazepam-Veratran, Clozan, Rize
Cloxazolam-Sepazon, Olcadil
Delorazepam-Dadumir
Diazepam-Antenex, Apaurin, Apzepam, Apozepam,
Hexalid, Pax, Stesolid, Stedon, Valium, Vival, Valaxona Midazolam-Dormicum, Versed, Hypnovel, Dormonid
Tetrazepam-Myolastan
Triazolam-Halcion, Rilamir
Appearance
PURPOSES
Benzodiazepines are useful in treating
anxiety, insomnia, agitation, seizures,
muscle spasms, alcohol withdrawal and
as a premedication for medical or
dental procedures
Therapeutic actions
Action
Anxiolytic-relief of anxiety
Clinical Use
Anxiety and panic disorders, phobias
Hypnotic-promotion of sleep
Insomnia.
Myorelaxant-muscle relaxation
Muscle spasms, spastic disorders.
Anticonvulsant-stop fits,
convulsions
Fits due to drug poisoning, some
forms of epilepsy.
Amnesia-impair short-term memory Premedication for operations,
sedation for minor surgical
procedures.
CATEGORIES
Benzodiazepines are categorized as either short-,
intermediate-, or long-acting. Short- and
intermediate-acting benzodiazepines are
preferred for the treatment of insomnia;
longer-acting benzodiazepines are
recommended for the treatment of anxiety.
IMMEDIATE EFFECTS
Benzodiazepines enhance receptors, resulting in
sedative, hypnotic, anti-anxiety, and muscle
relaxant properties!
POSSIBLE SHORT TERM
Panic attacks, agoraphobia
Insomnia, nightmares
Tremors, muscle spasms, stiffness,
pain,
hallucinations,
depression, psychosis
POSSIBLE LONG TERM
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Neurological - tinnitus, neuropathy
Motor - muscle spasms, stiffness, pain
Gastrointestinal
Cognitive impairment
OTHER PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED
Oversedation
Memory and cognitive impairment, traffic accidents, falls and fractures,
mental confusion/dementia in the elderly.
Additive effects with alcohol/drugs
Aggressiveness, violence, baby battering, wife beating
Dependence/withdrawal
Illicit abuse suicide, Aggression, violence, antisocial behavior, risks to fetus if
pregnant, unemployment through illness.
Recreational abuse
AIDS, hepatitis, unwanted pregnancy
Veterinary use
Benzodiazepines are used in veterinary practice in the treatment of
various disorders and conditions. As in humans, they are used in the
first-line management of seizures, status epilepticus, and tetanus, and
as maintenance therapy in epilepsy (in particular, in cats). They are
widely used in small and large animals (including horses, swine, cattle
and exotic and wild animals) for their anxiolytic and sedative effects,
as premedication before surgery, for induction of anesthesia and as
adjuncts to anesthesia.
FINAL
Works Cited
"Benzodiazepine." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation,
02 Dec. 2013. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.
"List of Benzodiazepines." Wikipedia. Wikimedia
Foundation,
02 May 2013. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.
"Addiction: Part I. Benzodiazepines—Side Effects, Abuse Risk
and alternatives."Addiction: Part I. Benzodiazepines-Side
Effects, Abuse Risk and Alternatives. N.p., 1 Apr. 2000. Web.
11 Feb. 2014.