Benzodiazepines: Useful and Dangerous
Benzodiazepines, sometimes called benzos are a class of psychoactive medications which are sometimes referred to as tranquilizers. They are often prescribed to address the symptoms of mental and mood conditions such as:
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Panic disorders
- Muscle spasms
- Seizures
- Sleeplessness
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Premenstrual syndrome
While they’re useful when properly prescribed and monitored, Benzodiazepine can become habit forming. Because of the effect they have on the brain, people may abuse them to get high. Abuse can lead to addiction. Benzos can become addictive similar to opioids (narcotic drugs like oxycodone, morphine, hydrocodone, and fentanyl).
If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction, we can help. Speak confidentially with a counselor right now. Make the call. (888) 837-6577.
All benzodiazepines have the potential for abuse, some more so than others. There are two things to consider—the drug’s potency and its half-life. A half-life measures how long the medication takes to break down and exit the body. A low potency benzo with a long half-life is weaker than a high-potency benzo with a short half-life.
Here’s a List of Benzodiazepines:
Low-potency benzodiazepines—
With a long half-life:
- chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
- clorazepate (Tranxene)
- diazepam (Valium)
- flurazepam
With a short half-life:
- oxazepam (Serax)
- temazepam (Restoril)
High-potency benzodiazepines—
With a long half-life:
- clonazepam (Klonopin)
With a short half-life:
- alprazolam (Xanax)
- lorazepam (Ativan)
- triazolam (Halcion)
Medications with a shorter half-life, while more short-acting, are often felt more intensely and take effect more rapidly. Benzodiazepine abusers often prefer short-acting, high-potency benzos, such as lorazepam or alprazolam, due to their fairly rapid and intense high.
There’s another benzo you’ve heard of, even though it’s not prescribed in America. Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) is purchased illegally on the streets. Known as the date rape drug, Rohypnol is a high-potency benzodiazepine with a relatively long half-life.
Get Treatment. Get Your Life Back.
It is very difficult to recover from benzodiazepine addiction because these medications change the chemistry of your brain. A licensed and experienced treatment center is the best call to make if you or a loved one are suffering from a benzo addiction. Quitting cold turkey isn’t likely to be successful, and it can be quite dangerous because of the symptoms of withdrawal. Get help.
Addiction doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Factors which contributed to your addiction will need to be confronted in treatment. Elements of the addiction—physical, psychological, and spiritual—need to be addressed.
At Honey Lake Clinic, our unique treatment programs specifically and deeply address all three spheres—spirit, mind, and body—offering each individual his or her greatest chance at recovery, wholeness and transformative growth.
At Honey Lake, we’re committed to providing you with compassionate care and the necessary tools to release addiction’s grip on your life. We’re here for you.
Our faith-informed model, experienced staff, licensed professional caregivers, individualized treatment, all in a beautiful and tranquil 1300-acre lakeside setting—what are you waiting for? Make the call. Regain control of your life today.
