Effects of long-term benzodiazepine use Wikipedia

Other challenges with stimulant treatment, such as sleep disturbance and slowed growth, can generally be safely managed by a health care provider. Says Oslin, “Benzodiazepines are one of several classes of medications that have a high addictive potential and substantial risks for falls, cognitive dulling, and sleep impairment. From a public health perspective, starting 80-year-old patients on benzodiazepines is a high-risk prospect. In addition to the risks to the individual, there is also risk for greater drug diversion and exposure of these medications to grandkids if not properly stored and disposed.” Captodiamine is a diphenhydramine-related compound that does not work at histamine receptors as diphenhydramine does and its mechanism of action is unclear [70]. This drug has also been studied in the context of both BZD replacement and withdrawal as a potential treatment [70].

1. Many medications used to treat mental disorders are safe and effective for children and adolescents.
2. A person with panic disorder has panic attacks which are repeated episodes of intense fear which may be expected or unexpected.
3. Beta-blockers generally are not recommended for people with asthma or diabetes because they may worsen the symptoms of both conditions.
4. Women are more susceptible to BZD overuse because they are more likely to be prescribed than men [29].

A Closer Look at the Study

Use these free digital, outreach materials in your community and on social media to spread the word about mental health. Use these free education and outreach materials in your community and on social media to spread the word about mental health and related topics. If you or a loved one is struggling with benzodiazepine misuse or addiction, American Addiction Centers can help. Our programs offer unique treatment options to fit your needs, and facilities across the United States provide treatment options from detox and inpatient treatment to outpatient options and aftercare.

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Remember that drug prices are subject to change at any time and may differ among pharmacies. For most types of acute or prolonged seizures or status epilepticus, an intravenous (IV) or rectal benzodiazepine would be the treatment of first choice. The patient may remain awake but sedated, and usually there is no recollection of the procedure.

Common side effects of benzodiazepines

They’re an important means of treating many conditions, ranging from mental health disorders to brain-related diseases. 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. BZDs represent one of the most widely prescribed drug classes in the United States. They are used for immediate symptom relief of anxiety, epilepsy and other seizure disorders, spasticity from CNS pathology, catatonia, sleep disorders such as insomnia, and withdrawal from alcohol and other BZDs [3].

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Agarwal and Landon 2019 stated that the prescription of BZD in outpatient settings significantly increased from 2003 to 2015 [27]. In a systematic review of research, Charlson et al. could not find conclusive evidence supporting increased risk of mortality in BZD users [43]. In their analysis of six retrospective 10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication studies, half of them showed no significant relationship between BZD use and mortality. One of the studies showed an increase in mortality with increased dosage and frequency of use which could be attributed to increased toxicity, another showed a positive correlation among older adults [43].

This is when the same dose no longer gives the same effect, and a dosage increase is needed to ease symptoms again. When prescribed by a doctor and used for short periods of time, such as the day of surgery or for less than two weeks (but not every night) to aid sleep, benzodiazepines are https://sober-house.net/is-it-dangerous-to-drink-alcohol-while-taking/ safe to take. Many traditional benzodiazepines are broken down in the liver and when combined with drugs that block this action, blood levels can rise, leading to side effects. Lorazepam, oxazepam and temazepam are less likely to have this risk due to fewer liver enzyme interactions.

Interestingly, a lower prevalence of withdrawal symptoms was noted in the experimental group without any change in pharmacologic treatment from control group [73]. However, this study included a small sample size, so a larger study using this standardized counseling method would increase the validity of the results of this study [73]. More studies will need to be carried out on the non-pharmacologic treatment of BZD withdrawal, as it is showing some promise for the successful discontinuation of the drugs. Still, due to the severe potential for dependence and deadly withdrawal sequelae, guidelines for recommended use are no longer than a few weeks. Despite this, numerous studies report usage extending for months into years or even decades in many users [9].

Many studies have examined the effects of benzodiazepines on cognition with varied results. Some of the variations in results may be attributed to cognitive criteria in which each study followed. https://sober-home.org/alcoholism-causes-risk-factors-and-symptoms/ In a prospective longitudinal study on the effects of psychotropic drugs in the cognition of the elderly, Allard et al. [19] found no significant long-term effect of BZD use on cognition.

Catatonia presents in populations suffering from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or a variety of medical conditions. BZDs act on the CNS to exert anxiolytic and sedative effects and, together with electroconvulsive therapy, are the mainstay therapy for catatonia [13]. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of talking therapy aimed at changing the way a person thinks and behaves, to help reduce symptoms of various mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders. Mood stabilizers are sometimes used to treat depression (usually along with an antidepressant), schizoaffective disorder, disorders of impulse control, and certain mental illnesses in children.

Additionally, according to several studies, BZD use increases with age, with long-term usage most prevalent in the 65 and older population [16]. Long-term use is defined as two or more months at a therapeutic dose and when used long-term, BZDs pose potential harmful effects. This is especially concerning in the elderly, who are at increased risk for psychomotor impairment, car accidents, and cognitive impairment such as anterograde amnesia-diminished short-term recall, and increased forgetfulness [11].