What are the major risks and side effects of benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines are a class of substances frequently utilized as sedatives and tranquilizers. While benzodiazepines are among the most frequently prescribed medications, they definitely carry some risk of overdose and substance use disorder.

Understanding benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are medications that calm the brain. This can be very useful in treating cases such as:

sleep disturbance

seizure disorder

anxiety disorder such as panic attacks

Benzodiazepines can be prescribed only by licensed registered practitioners. They are usually in the form of a liquid, a tablet or as capsules. These include but are not limited to:

diazepam (Valium)

alprazolam (Xanax)

lorazepam (Ativan)

It should be noted that abuse of benzodiazepine medications is of concern. Prolonged benzodiazepine abuse can lead to or result from substance use disorder; overdose and death. Hence the placement of benzodiazepines in Schedule IV of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Sale, possession and even production of benzodiazepines without a permit for medical, scientific or industrial use is illegal.

The effects of benzodiazepines are many including positive and negative, long and short term one’s, the characteristics are as such:

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Common short-term side effects may include:

• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Constipation
• Memory loss
• Speech other than their typical slurred version
• Whichever muscles aren’t weak, are now
• Swaying/ stumbling
• Balance issues
• Besides these, there are even more notable symptoms like:
• Euphoria (a feeling of well being)
• Sudden Anxiety
• delusions
• upset skin
• Nausea
• busy, anxious feeling
• violent irritation

Memories can fade and thinking can become difficult because of increases feelings of euphoria and anxiety, which in turn make drowsiness, dizziness, menstruation, imbalance hard to do. To overcome add on imagination issues hallucinations can help, these hallucinations can include reactions like skin burning or other forms of skin irritability, even anger.
Physical dependence, an inability to focus on, or even concentrate on long term disorders, this is coupled with irritability as hand in hand disorder.

Use of benzodiazepines does come with caution, especially due to the risks included:

• To begin with, the major risk of against bipolar disorder is flesh consumption, this means enhancement of tolerance and a deeper use of resources to cope with weaker states.
• lastly but not the least, constantly taking the drug and minimizing doses would put someone in a state of overdose.

It’s important to plan properly, an appropriate dosed amount should be prescribed by physicians.

The interaction of benzodiazepines with other depressants such as alcohol or opioids can be risky. The interaction of these agents alongside benzodiazepines increases the chances of an overdose since they are all sedatives.

It is however important to administer naloxone, as it reverses the action of opioid medications for a short time and can enable breathing for an individual who is still unconscious.

Naloxone is not useful in the case of a benzodiazepine overdose but it is safe for use in patients who took both opioids and nonopioids because it can be used in opioid overdose.

Even after being administered with Naloxone, patients who have an overdose history with a combination of benzodiazepines and opioids may remain unconscious for several hours because benzodiazepines cause sedation.

For all the suspected overdose cases, please contact 911 for emergency help. If you have naloxone, go ahead and administer it. Stay with the person until emergency personnel arrive.

Substance use disorders and withdrawal.

Whether used on or off prescription, there are high chances of developing a physical dependence on benzodiazepines. This dependence means that an abrupt stop or taking a much lower dose than needed may lead to some uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

The following symptoms are experienced during the withdrawal from Benzodiazepine:

Headaches.

Pain in muscles.

Inability to relax.

Stomach problems.

Insomnia.

The symptoms that are slightly less common are:

Behavioral irritability.

Mentally feeling confused.

Feeling depressed.

Severe anxiety.

Seizures.

Excessive sweating, Extended trembling and Psychotics hallucinations.

Caring Hands Recovery Center

At Caring Hands Recovery Treatment Center, we have better and effective treatment options that we ensure are applicable to the unique conditions of patients.

If Benzodiazepines is something you or someone you care about is dealing with, or has dealt with, Caring Hands Recovery can offer the understanding, the support and the treatment needed, to allow the individual to fully recover from the addiction and live a life free of drugs.

Caring Hands Recovery are qualified personnel ready to respond to your questions now. You can call them on +1 760-468-3444.

Reach out to us today by calling: +1 760-468-3444