Benzopiazepines serve three main therapeutic purposes: 1) anxiety 2) insomnia 3) seizure disorders. Benzos can also be used for alcohol withdrawal, but those are their 3 main uses. They work by potentiating (increasing, enhancing) the action of GABA, which is a neurotransmitter that helps control anxiety, aggression, and excitation.
Benzos can cause depression, dependency, or tolerance, so the are only indicated for short term use. There are long acting and short acting benzos, so I'll make sure I mention that for each specific drug. They are CNS depressants, so side effects include drowsiness, sedation, and cognitive impairment. Make sure you remind your patient taking a benzo to avoid consuming alcohol! Birth control should be used if the woman is of childbearing age, because benzos can cause birth defects.
Benzodiazepines include:
Xanax
Ativan
Valium
Serax
Librium
Tranxene
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