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Benzodiazepine Information and the Effects of Benzodiazepine Addiction
Benzodiazepines are a large class of commonly prescribed tranquillizers. They act as central nervous system depressants and sedative-hypnotics. Some of the more popular benzodiazepines are Xanax, Lexotan, Librium, Klonopin, Tranxene, Valium, Ativan, and Versed.
All benzodiazepines have similar effects. They tend to make you sleepy, reduce anxiety, reduce muscle tension, tend to disrupt both long and short term memory and are used to reduce seizure probability.
Specific benzodiazepines exhibit more prominent effects to varying degrees. For example, Valium is more likely to induce sleep while benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Klonopin are less likely to induce sleep but are very powerful anti-anxiety drugs.
Benzodiazepines are most commonly prescribed for anxiety conditions, such as panic disorder and acute anxiety attacks. They are also sometimes prescribed for seizure disorders and as muscle relaxers.
Benzodiazepines and the Body
Benzodiazepines are general central nervous system depressants. They are all very similar chemically. All benzodiazepines act by enhancing the actions of a natural brain chemical, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA is a neurotransmitter, an agent which transmits messages from one brain cell (neuron) to another. GABA inhibits the brain by transmitting signals that tell it to slow down. Since millions of neurons all over the brain respond to GABA, this means that GABA has a general quietening influence on the brain: it is in some ways the body's natural tranquillizer. This natural action of GABA is enhanced by benzodiazepines.
As a consequence increased GABA inhibitory activity caused by benzodiazepines, the brain's output of excitatory neurotransmitters is reduced. These neurotransmitters are necessary for normal alertness, memory, muscle tone and co-ordination, emotional responses, endocrine gland secretions, heart rate and blood pressure control and a host of other functions, all of which may be impaired by benzodiazepines. Other benzodiazepine receptors are present in the kidney, colon, blood cells and adrenal glands.
The time it takes to form a physical dependency or addiction on a given benzodiazepine varies widely. Numerous variables may play a role; the size of your dose, the regularity with which you consume your dose, and most importantly, your personal body chemistry. People have been known to form dependencies in as little as 14 days of regular use at therapeutic dose levels. Your probability of forming some degree of dependency or addiction is significant, probably at least 50%, by the time you have been using them daily for 6 months. After a year of continuous use, it is highly likely that you will have formed a benzodiazepine addiction.
Regular benzodiazepine use almost always causes some degree of deterioration in cognitive functioning, which progresses with continued use. Long term benzodiazepine use also causes lethargy and decreased energy levels. Benzodiazepines frequently worsen depression. This is why people are often given antidepressants after being given a benzodiazepine for anxiety. Benzodiazepine use can also result in the impairment of the user's ability to experience emotions. Benzodiazepines are often prescribed for conditions to which they are not appropriate, such as depression. Furthermore, they are often prescribed for anxiety conditions for which the individual could be treated effectively with other therapeutic techniques
When the benzodiazepine dependent person decides to get help with their benzodiazepine addiction or dependency, it will be very difficult to predict how severe their withdrawal will be. Duration of use, dosage, type of benzodiazepine, age, your personal body chemistry, will all be factors. Some evidence suggests that Xanax, Klonopin, and Ativan may produce more severe withdrawal symptoms than other benzodiazepines.
Medically unsupervised sudden discontinuance of benzodiazepines is a dangerous and unacceptable method of withdrawal. “Cold turkey” benzodiazepine detox or withdrawal may cause seizures, and is also associated with a higher probability of withdrawal psychosis. Supervision of your benzodiazepine detox and discontinuance should be monitored by a trained medical staff.
There is a misconception that cold turkey withdrawal will bring about a faster remission of symptoms. There is actually some evidence that cold turkey withdrawal may lengthen the course of the withdrawal symptoms.
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