24/10/2022
Short-Acting Benzodiazepines Include A LOTT!
Benzodiazepines are a class of psychoactive drugs that elicit depressant effects on the central nervous system. They diffuse rapidly through the blood-brain barrier affecting the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and exerting sedative effects. Chemicals called neurotransmitters are used by brain cells to exchange information. These messages may have a relaxing or stimulating effect.
GABA is a neurotransmitter that instructs the body to relax. In the brain, overstimulation takes place when a person is anxious. The brain sends signals when benzodiazepines are taken to reduce this overstimulation. This activity can lessen the effects of anxiety.
Because of their rapid onset and immediate symptom relief, BZDs are used for those struggling with sleep, anxiety, spasticity due to CNS pathology, muscle relaxation, and epilepsy. The risk for addiction in BZDs is one of their debilitating negative effects.
BZDs must be carefully tapered off when administered due to withdrawal symptoms caused by reliance. It has been demonstrated that regular use of BZDs results in serious, detrimental psychological and physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms resembling alcohol withdrawal.
Short-acting BZDs have a shorter duration of action than long-acting BZDs such as diazepam and clonazepam. Short-acting BZDs include
Alprazolam
Lorazepam
Oxazepam
Temazepam
Triazolam
References
Edinoff, A. N., Nix, C. A., Hollier, J., Sagrera, C. E., Delacroix, B. M., Abubakar, T., . . . Kaye, A. D. (2021). Benzodiazepines: Uses, dangers, and clinical considerations. Neurology International, 13(4), 594-607. doi:10.3390/neurolint13040059
Nordqvist, J. (2020, November 8). The benefits and risks of benzodiazepines. Retrieved October 22, 2022 from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/262809
Written by: Anne Blas
Graphic by: Gabrielle Dominique Caluza