Function, Dosage, Side Effects, etc.
Use
What are benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines, or benzo drugs, are drugs that are categorized as psychoactive drugs. This drug is usually used to treat symptoms of psychological disorders such as anxiety disorders ( anxiety disorder) and insomnia.
Benzodiazepines act as sedatives, anti-anxiety, hypnotics (make sleep easier), and can relax the body’s muscles.
You can’t just get this drug, because benzodiazepines are included in the list of drugs that must be redeemed by a doctor’s prescription. In the medical world, benzodiazepines are used to:
- Overcoming various psychological problems such as insomnia, anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and depression I.
- As a sedative during surgery
- Prevent or treat seizures
- Resolve alcohol withdrawal
Here are some examples of benzodiazepine drugs:
How do benzodiazepines work?
Benzodiazepines act directly on the central nervous system and affect the process of sending signals in the brain. When a person feels too anxious, the brain will become overactive and ‘excited’ as a result of feeling stressed due to external stimuli.
To normalize this, someone has to send out a ‘calm’ signal, so that the brain returns to its original activity – no longer being overly active.
This benzodiazepine drug then works by increasing the response of nerve cells which are responsible for providing a ‘calm’ signal to other nerve cells.
Apart from increasing the response of nerve cells, this drug also keeps the “calm” effect going for longer, so that the brain does not re-stress in a short time.
How do i use benzodiazepines?
Take benzodiazepines according to the rules and dosages that have been determined by your doctor. The dosage is based on the medical condition and response to treatment.
To reduce the risk of side effects, your doctor may ask you to start a low dose of medication and slowly increase the dose. Follow the doctor’s instructions carefully.
Do not increase your dose on your own or take your medication for longer than recommended.
Tramadol is a drug that may cause addictive reactions, especially if it has been used routinely for a long time or in high doses.
In such cases, symptoms of addiction (such as fatigue, watery eyes, runny nose, nausea, sweating, muscle aches) may appear if you suddenly stop taking the drug tramadol.
To prevent this, the doctor may reduce the dose slowly. Contact your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any symptoms of addiction if you experience them.
Take this medication as prescribed to prevent the risk of addiction. Tell your doctor if pain persists or gets worse.
How to store this drug?
Benzodiazepines are best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don’t keep it in the bathroom. Don’t freeze it. Other brands of benzodiazepine drugs may have different storage rules.
Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard benzodiazepine products if the drug’s validity period has expired or when it is no longer needed.
Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.
Dose
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.
What is the dosage for benzodiazepines for adults?
The dosage of benzodiazepines generally depends on the type of drug and the patient’s health condition.
The following are the standard dosages given for adults:
- Alprazolam: 0.25 mg 2-3 times a day. The dosage can be increased by 0.5 to 1 mg every 3-4 days. The maximum dose is 4 mg daily.
- Chlordiazepoxide: 5-10 mg 1-2 times a day, dose may be increased by 5 mg daily.
- Clonazepam: 0.25 mg 2 times a day, dose can be increased by 0.125-0.25 mg daily.
- Diazepam: 2 mg 2-4 times a day.
- Lorazepam: 0.5 mg 2 times a day, dose may be increased by 1 mg daily.
- Oxazepram: 10-15 mg once a day, the dose can be increased gradually by 10 mg a day, orally 3 times a day.
What is the dosage of benzodiazepines for children?
The safety and effectiveness of benzodiazepines for children have not been determined. Consult with your doctor first about giving this drug to your child.
In what preparations is this drug available?
Benzodiazepines are available in the form of soluble tablets, tablets extended release, as well as injection.
Side effects
What are the possible side effects of taking benzodiazepines?
In its use, this sedative gives rise to several side effects as:
- Causes drowsiness
- Confusion
- Headache or dizziness
- The body was shaking
- Coordination problems, difficulty balancing the body when standing or walking
- Depression arose
- Blurred vision
- Feeling nervous
Using high doses can cause a person to have difficulty breathing and then fall into a coma. While a study reported in British Medical Journal states that long-term use of benzodiazepines will increase the risk dementia aka senile.
The use of this drug can cause dependence, so its use must be careful and according to doctor’s recommendations.
Not everyone experiences these benzodiazepine side effects. There may be some effects of benzodiazepines not listed above.
If you have concerns about certain effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Precautions and Warnings
What should I know before taking benzodiazepines?
Before using benzodiazepines, consider the risks, benefits and side effects of tramadol first. This is a decision you and your doctor will have to make.
For benzodiazepines, things that need to be considered are:
Allergy
Tell your doctor if you have any unusual or allergic reactions to benzodiazepines or other drugs. Also tell your doctor if you have any other types of allergies such as to food, coloring, preservatives, or animal allergies.
Benzodiazepine drug abuse
Sedatives such as benzodiazepines are often misused to treat psychological symptoms that don’t actually require the use of these drugs.
Or, the use of this drug is not monitored by medical personnel, so the function of the drug is not well targeted.
As previously explained, benzodiazepines work to calm and restore stressed brain activity.
If a person takes the drug but there is no overactivity in the brain, then this drug will only reduce brain function and make brain performance chaotic.
Is this drug safe for pregnant and lactating women?
In general, doctors do not allow pregnant women to take benzodiazepines.
The drug tramadol is a drug that is included in the risk of pregnancy category D according to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:
- A = Not at risk,
- B = not at risk in several studies,
- C = May be risky,
- D = There is positive evidence of risk,
- X = Contraindicated,
- N = Unknown
In addition, mothers who are breastfeeding should not take benzodiazepines. This is because this drug can be absorbed into breast milk and consumed by the baby.
Drug Interactions
What drugs may interact with benzodiazepines?
Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document.
Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor’s approval.
The following are drugs that have the potential to cause interactions with the benzodiazepines you are taking:
- phenothiazines
- opioids (codeine, morphine, methadone, oxycodone)
- barbiturates (pentobarbital, butobarbital)
- monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI (phenelzine, tranycypromine, isocarboxazid)
- other antidepressants
Combining benzodiazepines with any of the above drugs has the potential to lead to drug addiction.
Can food or alcohol interact with benzodiazepines?
Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur.
Smoking or consuming alcohol with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur.
Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.
What health conditions can interact with this drug?
The presence of other health problems in your body can affect the use of benzodiazepines. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems, such as:
Overdose
What should I do in an emergency or overdose?
In the case of an emergency or overdose, contact the emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Signs of a benzodiazepine overdose include:
- Excessive fatigue
- Nausea
- Throws up
- Stomach ache
- The vomit was bloody and looked like coffee grounds
- The stool is dark and bloody
- Slow breathing
- Coma (loss of consciousness over a period of time)
What should I do if I miss a dose?
If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don’t double the dose.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Griffin, CE, 3rd, Kaye, AM, Bueno, FR, & Kaye, AD (2013). Benzodiazepine pharmacology and central nervous system-mediated effects. The Ochsner journal, 13(2), 214–223.
Gray, S., Dublin, S., Yu, O., Walker, R., Anderson, M., & Hubbard, R. et al. (2016). Benzodiazepine use and risk of incident dementia or cognitive decline: prospective population based study. BMJ, i90. doi: 10.1136 / bmj.i90
Benzodiazepines: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions & Warnings – Drugs.com. (2017). Retrieved February 13, 2021, from https://www.drugs.com/article/benzodiazepines.html
Benzodiazepine Toxicity: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology – Medscape. (2017). Retrieved February 13, 2021, from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/813255-overview?pa=LtJcNIBTwviSxAhmUHQOWhDenjZT%2BVsdsHf0zuufdhB6GmD7qkCUxWSqO0Wnh0SKKA8wRsz3tm%2BzugFlgvW3TAP9
Benzodiazepines: Uses, Side Effects, and Risks – Medical News Today. (2016). Retrieved February 13, 2021, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/262809.php
Benzodiazepine Abuse Basics – WebMD. (2017). Retrieved February 13, 2021, from http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/benzodiazepine-abuse#1
