Author: Charles Frank

List of Common Benzodiazepines + Uses & Side Effects

When benzodiazepines are combined with other sedatives, opiates or alcohol, the risk of serious side effects such as profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death may occur. Abuse, misuse, addiction, physical dependence, and withdrawal reactions greatly increases with use of this drug class. He Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that doctors avoid prescribing Xanax and other benzodiazepines with opioid pain medication whenever possible. Yes, withdrawal is a possible complication of misusing benzodiazepines. Unfortunately, it’s also possible with long-term use of these drugs even when you take them as prescribed.

What should I avoid while taking Xanax?

In addition, some benzodiazepines are more potent than others or work for a longer length of time. The table below summarizes the common benzodiazepines available in the U.S. Examples of Schedule V drugs include antidiarrheals, antitussives (cough medicine), and analgesics (pain relievers). Additional examples of Schedule IV drugs include the benzodiazepines listed below.

When To Call the Doctor

Under the direction of a physician, certain benzodiazepines may be given in very serious and life-threatening situations like status epilepticus. Nayzilam (midazolam) and Valtoco (diazepam) are nasal sprays now approved for the treatment of seizure clusters (also known as acute repetitive seizures). Nayzilam is approved by the FDA to be used in patients 12 years of age and older, and Valtoco in used in those 6 years and older.

Benzodiazepine Overdose (OD): Misuse, Symptoms & Side Effects

A drug or chemical can be treated as a Schedule 1 substance for criminal prosecution even if it is not a controlled substance. Doctors recommend waiting until all benzodiazepines pass out of your system before you drink alcohol. That could take up to 20 hours for shorter-acting drugs like alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan, Loreev). For longer-acting drugs like chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam (Klonopin), and diazepam (Valium), it could take up to 3 days.

Benzodiazepines can lead to both physical and psychological dependence. If you become dependent on the drugs, you can have withdrawal symptoms and even seizures when you suddenly stop taking them. Only a very small percentage of people who take normal doses for short periods will become dependent on benzodiazepines. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

The potential for abuse of Schedule III drugs and substances is considered lower than the previous categories. These, too, have a medicinal use, though they can lead to “moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.” The drug can become addictive, and it’s especially dangerous when prescribed with opioids. A 2016 study in Pain Medicine found that overdose death rates among patients taking opioids and benzos together were 10 times higher than among those only taking opioids. If you suddenly reduce your dose of benzodiazepines or stop taking them — even if you’ve been using them as prescribed by a doctor — you could have withdrawal symptoms.

It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. However, there are many other potential interactions, so a drug interaction screen with your pharmacist or doctor is needed. Patients should not stop using any medications, including benzodiazepines, without first contacting their doctor. Abrupt discontinuation of benzodiazepines may lead to severe withdrawal symptoms. Benzodiazepines are a class of medications that work in the central nervous system and are used for a variety of medical conditions, such as anxiety, seizures, and for alcohol withdrawal. Benzodiazepines work by blocking excessive activity of nerves in the brain and other areas in the central nervous system.

What are the most commonly prescribed benzodiazepines?

For example, lorazepam has a much shorter duration than diazepam, allowing quicker clearance of the drug and theoretically less side effects. On the other hand, diazepam can remain in the system for days and boost the risk for long-term side effects, especially in the elderly. Common benzodiazepines used for GAD include alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, and lorazepam. Mirtazapine (Remeron) and buspirone are also effective in GAD for patients who do not respond to at least two trials of SSRIs or SNRIs. Long-term use of benzodiazepines for GAD should be avoided, when possible, due to addictive risk. Because benzodiazepines have a higher risk for misuse and can be habit-forming, healthcare providers tend to prescribe them cautiously.

While these medications can treat many conditions and help millions, they’re not without risks. If your healthcare provider prescribes one of these medications, don’t hesitate to ask for guidance, and take the medications exactly as prescribed. That way, you can benefit from these medications and reduce the risk of problems along the way.

1. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
2. Behavioral therapy and treatment with the antidepressants such as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and/or behavioral therapy are first-line treatments.
3. Short-term or emergency conditions usually merit the use of stronger, short-acting benzodiazepines.
4. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.
5. For example, most benzodiazepines have a sedative effect in addition to their primary effect.

Your healthcare provider will likely recommend that you don’t work or drive right after you start taking benzodiazepines. You may be able to work or drive after you start taking them, depending on how these drugs affect you, the dose you take, how long the drugs last and other factors. While there are separate types because they have different primary effects, there’s a lot of overlap between them.

The patient may remain awake but sedated, and usually there is no recollection of the procedure. This type of sedation allows the patient to recover more quickly from anesthesia. They will need someone to drive them home and are usually drowsy until the next day, so will need to take a full day off of work. There is normally no need to aid breathing in conscious sedation; however, a deeper level of sedation may rarely occur, therefore respiratory and resuscitative equipment should always be available to healthcare providers. Table 1 lists U.S. generic and brand name benzodiazepines, their common uses and duration of action. Many of the brand name products have been discontinued by their manufacturers; however, equivalent, lower-cost generics are available for these brands.