Lorazepam (Ativan) or oxazepam (Serax) may be preferred in patients with liver impairment such as cirrhosis. Commonly used medicines in this group include: chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan). Benzodiazepines reduce withdrawal symptoms and may be life-saving for the patient. Medications such as benzodiazepines are a first-line treatment for acute alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal produces changes in the body, such as: Common uses for benzodiazepines Alcohol withdrawalĪlcohol withdrawal is diagnosed in a patient with a history of heavy and prolonged alcohol use and a sudden reduction or complete abstinence from alcohol. This action allows the neuron to become negatively charged and resistant to excitation, which leads to the various anti-anxiety, sedative, or anti-seizure activity seen with these drugs. GABA helps to regulate movement, sight, anxiety, and many other brain functions.īenzodiazepines open GABA-activated chloride channels and allow chloride ions to enter the neuron. GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain (a chemical that helps to block a nerve action). There are three types of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric) receptors in the brain: GABA-A, GABA-B, and GABA-C. How do benzodiazepines work?īenzodiazepines work in the central nervous system, selectively occupying certain protein areas in the brain called GABA-A receptors. The shorter the half-life, the quicker the drug is eliminated, and the faster any bothersome side effects can subside. *The half-life is the amount of time it takes for half of the drug to be eliminated from the body. Half-life 37 to 53 minutes (short-acting) Procedural sedation lasting 30 minutes or less (adults) Half-life 2.5 h (short-acting) up to 7.2 h (active metabolite) Preoperative sedation general anesthesia induction seizures Nayzilam (nasal spray) Seizalam (IM injection) Seizure disorder, panic disorder, neuralgia (nerve pain)Īnxiety, alcohol withdrawal, partial seizuresĪnxiety, sedation, alcohol withdrawal, muscle spasm, seizure disordersĪnxiety, insomnia (short-term use), seizures, sedation Related: Generic Drugs - Availability and Patent Status Table 1: Common Benzodiazepines Available in the U.S. Many of the brand name products have been discontinued by their manufacturers however, equivalent, lower-cost generics are available for these brands. generic and brand name benzodiazepines, their common uses and duration of action. he Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that doctors avoid prescribing Xanax and other benzodiazepines with opioid pain medication whenever possible.įlumazenil is a benzodiazepine antagonist antidote that can be given intravenously in the emergency setting to reverse the effects of a benzodiazepine overdose. Abuse, misuse, addiction, physical dependence, and withdrawal reactions greatly increases with use of this drug class. When benzodiazepines are combined with other sedatives, opiates or alcohol, the risk of serious side effects such as profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death may occur. As controlled substances, all benzodiazepines have the potential for abuse, addiction and diversion.Ī Boxed Warning, the FDA's most stringent safety warning, exists on all benzodiazepine product information. There are many options available within the class, and most benzodiazepines are now available generically, making them affordable for most people.Īll benzodiazepines are listed as DEA schedule IV controlled substances. to induce relaxation and loss of memory of medical procedures or surgeryīenzodiazepines are a large drug class and have a long history of development, starting with the first FDA-approvals in the 1960s, chloridiazepoxide (Librium) and diazepam (Valium).Common examples of benzodiazepines include alprazolam (brand: Xanax), diazepam (brand: Valium) and lorazepam (brand: Ativan). Because of this, some benzodiazepines work better than others in the treatment of particular conditions. Benzodiazepines work by blocking excessive activity of nerves in the brain and other areas in the central nervous system.Īs a class, benzodiazepines are similar in how they work in the brain but have different potencies and durations of actions. Last updated on Jan 20, 2022.īenzodiazepines are a class of medications that work in the central nervous system and are used for a variety of medical conditions, such as anxiety, seizures, and for alcohol withdrawal. Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD.
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