Benzodiazepine

  BENZODIAZEPINES   - JANUARY 28, 2021   (Smith, 2019) WHAT IS BENZODIAZEPINES? Benzodiazepines are prescribed to help with anxiety or insomnia. Benzodiazepines work to calm or sedate an individual. This works by raising the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in the brain (NIH, 2018). Common benzodiazepines are diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and clonazepam (Klonopin) (HIH, 2018).  HISTORY  (Roche, 2021)  In 1955 Hoffmann-La Roche, along with Leo Sternbach, identified the first-ever benzodiazepine know as chlordiazepoxide-Librium (Wick, 2013). Hoffmann-La Roche in 1960 introduced chlordiazepoxide as  Librium and it was pursued molecular modification for enhanced activity(  Wick, 2013). Then in 1963 Valium-diazepam made an appearance. Roche's competitors were looking for analogs for different substances. Everyone thought benzodiazepines were less toxic and less likely to cause dependence than other older drugs (Wick, 2013). Medical professionals were enthusiastic at first for b