The Low-Down on Benzodiazepines

Anxiety disorders like social phobia and panic disorder can be treated with a number of
medications. One such class of these medications is benzodiazepines known as benzos
for shorts. !t is important whate"er your medical condition to understand how your
medications work. This will help you stay in control of your treatment and your life.
Therefore if you ha"e anxiety disorders you should understand how benzos work so that
you can make the best medical choices for yourself.
Benzos are considered "ery mild tran#uilizers. $ualities of benzos that you%ll hear used
to describe these dru&s include hypnotic sedati"e anxiolytic muscle relaxant and
amnesic. They work in short by slowin& down your central ner"ous system. 'ou can use
benzos for a number of medical conditions not (ust anxiety which include thin&s like
incomnia seizures muscle spasms and alcohol withdrawal. Dentists also sometimes use
benzos in their work. Those who abuse stimulant dru&s such as speed sometimes also
abuse benzos to come down from the hi&h. )ommon dru&s classified as benzos are
*anax +alium ,erax -ohypnol .alcion Librium /o&adone and Ati"an amon&
others.
There are a number of side effects to consider if you are thinkin& about usin& benzos to
treat your anxiety disorder. 0irst and foremost some benzos are extremely addicti"e.
1hile some report no addicti"e feelin&s others report complete addiction in as little as a
few days. !t depends on the stren&th of the dru& you are usin& and your body%s specific
reaction to it. Other side effects are drowsiness ataxia confusin& imbalance impaired
(ud&ment and for&etfulness. ,ome benzos are stron&er than others and all ha"e dru&-
specific side effects to consider as well. Once you are dependant or addicted to benzos
withdrawal can be difficult as will include symptoms like insomnia panic attacks
hypertension tremor depression sweatin& loss of appetite and dysphoria. ,udden
withdrawal may cause immediate con"ulsions catatonia delusions psychosis and
delirium tremens. The ultimate result could be death.
Only anxiety disorder patients to prescriptions and strict instructions from their doctors
should take benzos. 2ncontrolled the use of these dru&s 3like with most prescriptions
dru&s4 can be "ery harmful to your health. Benzos may be able to help you re&ain control
durin& a panic attack or in your day-to-day life. /any anxiety disorder patients ha"e in
fact found &reat success with this kind of medication. .owe"er there are disad"anta&es
to benzos as well. /ake sure that you fully understand how to use benzos and how they
will affect your body before be&innin& to take them.