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BenzosRehab.com Home Page |
 BenzosRehab.com is an online resource for
data on Benzodiazepines. Do not attempt to
go cold turkey if you are currently taking
any of the drugs in this family of
depressants. If you are looking for
searching for Benzos Rehab (Benzodiazepine
Rehabilitation) or if you have any questions
regarding withdrawal, please call one of our
trained counselors and we'll be happy to
assist you (866) 422-4650.
Most people start taking benzodiazepine
under a doctor's care to treat and/or
produce sedation, sleep, control anxiety,
muscle spasms and prevent seizures. In
higher dosages, benzodiazepines produce
hypnotics; in moderate dosage anziolytics;
and in lower dosage, they act as sedatives.
While most people who have started abusing
these medications started with a doctor's
prescription, others have found themselves
abusing benzos as a way of self-medicating
by "borrowing" from others, stealing or
buying the drugs illegally on the streets or
through shady internet sites. |
There are a multitude of problems which are
associated with benzodiazepine use. They can
include sedation, memory impairment,
overdose, and physical dependence. Although
tolerance develops to the sedative effects
of these drugs, the use of benzodiazepines
may be may be a factor in road accidents,
particularly when they are used in
combination with other sedative drugs such
as alcohol and other medications. Memory
impairment is one of the most striking
adverse effects of benzodiazepines (Curran
1991) especially in the elderly which may
include dementia. Medical Assisted Treatment
reports that memory impairment could be
disruptive or dangerous to the extent that a
person may forget important events or
information, or engage in risky behaviors
while under the influence of drugs. While an
overdose with benzodiazepines alone is
generally not lethal, an overdose of a
benzodiazepine combined with another
sedating drug (including methadone) can be
fatal. Thus, benzodiazepines are routinely
found in toxicology screens of suicide
victims, or attempters, and suicide risk
should be closely assessed and monitored in
methadone patients who are taking
benzodiazepines.
 Perhaps
the most prominent and relevant risk
associated with benzodiazepine use in
drug-abusing population is that of physical
dependence and withdrawal symptoms following
discontinuation. When regular use of
benzodiazepines is discontinued, patients
can experience rebound anxiety and
agitation, insomnia, tension, sweating,
tremulousness, ringing in the ears,
increased sensitivity to noises and to
light, and sensory and perceptual
distortions (Busto et al.1986). In cases of
severe depend-ence, withdrawal delirium and
and seizures, (like those seen in severe
alcohol withdrawal) may be observed. The
extent and timing of symptoms will depend in
part on the amount and duration of previous
use as well as the type of benzodiazepine
being used. Because of the potentially
dangerous symptoms that can appear,
benzodiazepine detoxification should be
conducted only under medical supervision.
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People who have legally prescribed
benzodiazepines and have become dependent on
those therapeutic doses usually have several
of the following characteristics.
They have gradually become to "need"
benzodiazepines to carry out normal,
day-to-day activities.
They have taken benzodiazepines in
prescribed "therapeutic" (usually low) doses
for months or years.
They have continued to take benzodiazepines
although the original indication for
prescription has disappeared.
They have difficulty in stopping the drug,
or reducing dosage, because of withdrawal
symptoms.
If on short-acting benzodiazepines they
develop anxiety symptoms between doses, or
get craving for the next dose.
They contact their doctor regularly to
obtain repeat prescriptions.
They become anxious if the next prescription
is not readily available; they may carry
their tablets around with them and may take
an extra dose before an anticipated
stressful event or a night in a strange bed.
They may have increased the dosage since the
original prescription.
They may have anxiety symptoms, panics,
agoraphobia, insomnia, depression and
increasing physical symptoms despite
continuing to take benzodiazepines. |
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The Office of National Drug Control Policy
reports:Benzodiazepines are mentioned as
an emerging drug problem in BostonE.
Alprazolam (Xanax®) and clonazepam (Klonopin®),
in particular, are widely abused in Boston
methadone programs.
Benzodiazepines are considered the drugs
with the most serious consequences by
methadone treatment sources in Baltimore,
Honolulu (where they have replaced heroin
since the last reporting period), Memphis,
and Miami.
In general, alprazolam is the most
frequently mentioned benzodiazepine.
Benzodiazepine use has increased in MemphisE,
especially among White adult females in
rural areas. Dealers are reported as older
and more rural than in the past. Alprazolam
is particularly common among methadone
clients.
Benzodiazepine abuse has increased somewhat
among methadone treatment clients in St.
Louis.
High school students in Miami are
increasingly abusing alprazolam, sometimes
with ecstasy, sometimes by itself. |
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Commonly known drugs which
are under the benzodiazepine family include: |
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Brand Name |
Generic Name |
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Ativan
Azene
Centrax
Clonopin
Dalmane
Halcion
Librium
Paxipam
Restoril
Serax
Valium
Xanax |
lorazepam
chlorazepate
prazepam
clonazepam
lurazepam
triazolam
chlordiazepoxide
halazepam
temazepam
oxazepam
diazepam
alprazolam |
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