Benzodiazepines for Anxiety

Benefits and Risks of Treating Anxiety Disorders with Anxiolytics

Jun 28, 2008

Benzodiazepines may be an effective short-term treatment for people with severe anxiety. However, these drugs do carry a significant risk of dependency.

Benzodiazepines are tranquilizer drugs that are used as treatment for a number of conditions, including severe anxiety. Anxiety symptoms may include the following:

Types of Benzodiazepines

There are two types – anxiolytics, the type usually used to treat anxiety, and hypnotics, which are mainly used for treating sleep problems. These drugs are usually prescribed for no more than one month, due to the risk of dependency.

Examples of anxiolytics include diazepam, alprazolam, bromazepam, chlordiazepoxide, chlorazepate, lorazepam and oxazepam. Hypnotics include: flunitrazepam, flurazepam, loprazolam, nitrazepam and temazepam.

How Benzodiazepines Reduce Anxiety

Benzodiazepines work quickly and are very effective at alleviating symptoms. They increase the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is a neurotransmitter responsible for slowing down brain activity, in turn reducing symptoms of anxiety.

Benzodiazepines may be useful while waiting for other treatments to take effect. Cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressants are examples of helpful treatments for anxiety that may take several weeks to start working.

Benzodiazepine Interactions and Side-Effects

Those prescribed benzodiazepines should read the patient information leaflet provided with their medication, as this will include a comprehensive list of interactions and side-effects. Benzodiazepines can be taken safely with some medications but may interact with others. When taken with alcohol, the effects of benzodiazepines are increased and can be fatal.

Benzodiazepines are not recommended in pregnancy and breastfeeding as they can be harmful to the baby.

Benzodiazepines and Dependency

Benzodiazepines can be physically and psychological addictive, hence usually only being prescribed in the short term. When people stop taking benzodiazepines, they may experience withdrawal symptoms. Their anxiety will usually return quickly, sometimes worse than before they commenced the drug. Other symptoms include:

Sometimes benzodiazepines are prescribed for longer, such as when the symptoms of anxiety are otherwise unmanageable. They are also prescribed to people who have been taking them for a long time, and/or who have experienced unpleasant long-term withdrawal symptoms when trying to reduce them.

Benzodiazepines and Research

Although benzodiazepines are proven to work and are known to be addictive, there is much to be understood about them. The majority of studies have examined short-term use of these drugs, and there is contention over whether or not long-term withdrawal symptoms are actually symptoms of an underlying disorder.

For more information about anxiety, read Five Types of Anxiety Disorders, which explores the main anxiety disorders and treatment options. Those who think they may need help with anxiety should contact a qualified health practitioner.

Sources

Benzodiazepines and anxiety disorders: a review for the practicing physician, Current Medical Research and Opinion, published: June 2005, author: Kaplan, M et al

Benzodiazepines, BMJ Best Treatments, accessed: 27th June 2008, no author specified

The copyright of the article Benzodiazepines for Anxiety in Phobias/Anxiety is owned by Barbara Melville. Permission to republish Benzodiazepines for Anxiety in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.