The benzodiazepines are a class of drugs with hypnotic, anxiolytic, anticonvulsive, amnestic and muscle relaxant properties. They are believed to act on the GABA receptor GABAA, the activation of which dampens higher neuronal activity. They used to be widely prescribed medicines for stress-related ailments in the 1960s and 1970s.
Benzodiazepines are used in short term relief of severe, disabling anxiety but their prolonged use is discouraged because of tolerance and dependency.
These drugs are preferred to the use of barbiturates because they have a lower abuse potential and relatively lower adverse reactions and interactions. However, drowsiness, ataxia, confusion, vertigo, impaired judgement, and a number of other effects are still common.
Hence, every person on long-term or high dosage of any benzodiazepine should be carefully weaned off the drug.
Onset of the withdrawal syndrome might be delayed, and it might be delayed longer than the barbiturate withdrawal syndrome. Even when withdrawal from short-acting benzodiazepines often presents early.
The benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome is characterized by:
insomnia
anxiety
tremor
perspiration
loss of appetite
delusions
It should be noted that some of the aforementioned withdrawal symptoms are identical to the symptoms the medication was originally prescribed for. Benzodiazepines can help existing conditions, whlie benzodiazepine dependency can cause them.
As it happens, benzodiazepines are the largest group of recreationally used drugs as well. [1]
