• What are benzodiazepines?
• How are they taken?
• What are the effects?
• What are the dangers?
• Are they addictive?

What are benzodiazepines?

• Used medically to produce sedation, induce sleep, relieve anxiety and muscle spasms, and prevent seizures.
  
• Benzodiazepines act as hypnotics in high doses, as anxiolytics in moderate doses and as sedatives in low doses.
  
• Similar to barbiturates, benzodiazepines differ from one another in how fast they take effect and how long the effects last.
  • Shorter-acting benzodiazepines are used to manage insomnia: Estazolam (ProSom), flurazepam (Dalmane), quazepam (Doral), temazepam (Restoril) and tiazolam (Halcion).
    
  • Longer acting benzodiazepines are used for the treatment of general anxiety: Alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), halazepam (Paxipam), lorazepam (Ativan), 0xazepam (Serax) and prazepam (Centrax).
    
  • Rohypnol (illegal in the United States, but used in other foreign countries to cure insomnia) is a common drug of abuse and is most commonly used as a date-rape drug known as "roofies" or a club drug.

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How are they taken?

• Taken orally.
  
• "Roofies" (the "date-rape" drug) can be dissolved in drinks.

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What are the effects?

• Intoxicated state or "high" similar to alcohol.
  
• Memory impairment.
  
• Depression.
  
• Insomnia.
  
• Tremors.
  
• Headache.
  
• Irritability.
  
• Confusion.
  
• Reduced inhibitions.
  
• Impaired judgment.

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What are the dangers?

• Death if mixed with alcohol or other depressants.
  
• Physical dependence (aka: addiction).
  
• Withdrawal from the use of depressants can lead to seizures, delirium and death.

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Are they addictive?

Addiction rarely occurs among people who use a pain reliever, central nervous system depressant, or stimulant as prescribed; however, inappropriate use of prescription drugs can lead to addiction in some cases.
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