Benzodiazipine are drugs which are easily prescribed/made available to many patients and healthy people. How do you see it to cause dependence and if you find someone are you aware of possible side effects of its withdrawal symptoms?
It is so commonly available that I guess it can be easily managed in most countries.
Benzodiazepines are generally effective when used in the short term. Most of the problems associated with benzodiazepines result from their long-term use. There are significant physical, mental and social risks associated with benzodiazepines in the long term.Because of these increased physical and mental symptoms of long-term use of benzodiazepines, it is recommended to slowly withdraw benzodiazepines for many long-term users.
Benzodiazepines are generally effective when used in the short term. Most of the problems associated with benzodiazepines result from their long-term use. There are significant physical, mental and social risks associated with benzodiazepines in the long term.Because of these increased physical and mental symptoms of long-term use of benzodiazepines, it is recommended to slowly withdraw benzodiazepines for many long-term users.
Benzodiazepines are effective in treating secondary anxiety symptoms of panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, performance anxiety and severe anxiety sometimes associated with phobias, such as fear of flying.
Benzodiazepines also help treat anxiety associated with some forms of depression. These medications should not be used to relieve everyday stress. Their use should be limited to persistent severe anxiety cases and should be used for short periods of time
Interesting comments and discussions ..................... Following
Most of centrally acting drugs such as sedatives and hypnotics including BENZODIAZEPINES are subject to dependence and abuse. Care should be given when prescribibg any of them... to be used only when bebefits overweigh the expected risks, used for the minimum duration, and preferably change between members of the benzodiazepine family if to be used for a long time.
G'day Sikandar
Benzodiazepines ('benzos') can be highly beneficial in the short term treatment of some problems (eg for treating anxiety after acute trauma, or for reducing the acute symptoms of alcohol or opioid withdrawal).
Regular use for longer periods of time (typically = or > about 2 months) leads to neuroadaptation/tolerance which means any initial benefit (for example improved sleep, or reduced anxiety) tends to be lost if the drug is prescribed chronically.
Problems with concentration, memory and day-to-day organization are not uncommon amongst regular users.
Benzos are highly dependence-forming when used chronically, and abrupt withdrawal will produce physiological symptoms such as anxiety/agitation, cns arousal, insomnia, and lowered seizure threshold.
Abrupt withdrawal from dependent use of larger doses of benzos can provoke life-threatening seizures (similar to abrupt withdrawal from serious alcohol dependence). If a person is habituated to daily use of relatively high doses of any benzodiazepine, then withdrawal should be undertaken cautiously, by gradual tapered dose reduction, under medical supervision.
There is a good discussion here;
https://www.nps.org.au/news/managing-benzodiazepine-dependence-in-primary-care#key-points
I hope that is useful?
Regards,
Paul.
Some benzodiazepines are prescribed for treatment of alcoholism; presently clonazepam is often use. But withdrawal of the benzo is often more difficult for patients than withdrawal of alcohol. In my opinion one should think twice before prescribing a benzo in alcohol-dependent patient.
Factors that increase the liability of BDZ to induce dependence are mainly due to pharmacokinetic factors such as:
Compared to non-recipients, benzodiazepine recipients were more likely to have diagnoses of: depression, substance abuse, tobacco use, osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, alcohol abuse, sleep apnea, and asthma.
So, benzodiazepines should usually be restricted to short-term use, and generally dosed regularly rather than as-needed.”
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