Benzodiazepines

Medications of Benzodiazepines

Alprazolam, lorazepam, oxazepam, diazepam, clonazepam, librium

They all end with am except Librium

Benzodiazepine Use

• Used as short term management of anxiety until SSRIs show effective

• Severe acute distress, where sedation is helpful

• Withdrawal from alcohol, BPD, alcohol, catatonia, insomnia, seizure

Benzodiazepine side effects

• semi sedative

• Hypnotic effect

• anticonvulsant

• muscle relaxant

• works fast

Benzodiazepine risk

• Drug abuse and addiction: u can develop tollerance

• Day-time sedation —> higher risk for injury and falls

• Taper off slowly

• No caffeine

• Respiratory deppression if mixed with other depressant

• Not a long term treatment

• Risk withdrawl from it

• Has minutes to hours onset

Benzodiazepine Mechanism of Action

• Increases brain amount of GABA at GABA-A receptors which is the calming part of the brain.

• This makes neurons less excitable to produce anti-anxiety, anti- convulsing, muscle relaxant, anti seizure effects