|  | Mental Health | Anxiety Disorders

Health Effects of Benzodiazepine

Benzodiazepines are a class of commonly-prescribed depressant drugs. In modern medicine, as many as fifteen different types of benzodiazepines are used to treat psychological and physical ailments. The drugs, used as anxiety relievers and muscle relaxants, have sedative properties as well as a very high abuse potential, especially when combined with depressants such as alcohol and opiates. In the U.S., benzodiazepines are classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance. Most benzodiazepines are administered orally, in tablet or capsule form, but some types may be dispensed intravenously.

  1. Interaction Effects

    • Although benzodiazepines represent a low risk of toxicity when used by alone, the drug can have enhanced toxic effects when used in conjunction with other drugs that have abuse potential. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), benzodiazepines "interact synergistically with other central nervous system depressants." These interactions between the drug and antidepressants, antihistamines, hypnotics or alcohol may lead to potentially dangerous consequences. In extreme cases, bezodiazepines may cause a fatal overdose in addicted patients who abuse the drug with alcohol. Also, pharmacokinetic interactions may occur with benzodiazepines and some drug classes, increasing the hypnotic and sedative effects.

    Psychomotor Effects

    • Some patients may experience psychomotor retardation when they are administered benzodiazepine for the first time or from a sudden dosage increase, according to AAFP. This slowing down of psychomotor faculties may also occur in older patients whose rates of metabolism are significantly slower than younger people. The elderly are also more susceptible to CNS (central nervous system) depression, which accentuates psychomotor retardation effects. Signs of psychomotor effects include drowsiness, muscle weakness in, poor motor coordination and concentration, confusion and vertigo. Benzodiazepines slow down reaction times and may lead to impaired driving abilities, increasing the risk of road accidents in patients who take benzodiazepines regularly.

    Effects On Memory

    • Benzodiazepines may cause a form of mild amnesia in some patients. "These specific amnestic effects appear to be separate from sedation," observes AAFP experts. This property makes certain types of benzodiazepines attractive for use in patients who are about to undergo surgery. This form of memory impairment is caused by benzodiazepines decreasing the brain's ability to retain episodic memory, that is, the ability to remember a sequence of recent events, their circumstances and time sequences. The memory impairment is more profound in people who consume significant amounts of alcohol frequently.

    Mental Effects

    • Some patients exhibit paradoxical disinhibition, a phenomenon in which taking benzodiazepines leads to aggression, irritability and hostility. In extreme cases, the paradoxical disinhibition may cause violent and antisocial behavioral patterns. In some cases, benzodiazepine use may result in symptoms of depression. Higher dosages may gradually cause the onset of depression, and discontinuing or reducing the dose may sometimes help to control the symptoms after the initial withdrawal period. According to the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR), "Withdrawal symptoms are most severe when a high dose of either a short-acting or intermediate-acting benzodiazepine is abruptly discontinued."

Anxiety Disorders - Related Articles