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 benzodiazepines which made the popularity of the substance skyrocket along with the demands from their patients. In the mid-to-late 1970s benzodiazepines were most frequently prescribed, it took over 15 years for researchers to connect benzodiazepines and their effect on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (Wick, 2013). In the 1980s clinicians now had a concern for the use of benzodiazepines, abuse, and dependence. More and more information kept coming out about benzodiazepines which made medical leaders and legislators take action. Medical leaders and legislators began giving guidance on the usage of benzodiazepines (Wick, 2013).
(National Inventors Hall of Fame, 2021).
THE DEVELOPMENT IN POPULARITY OF BENZODIAZEPINES
"Between 1996 and 2013, the number of prescriptions for benzodiazepines filled increased by 67 percent to 13.5 million" ( Liles, 2019, para 12). Benzodiazepines used to be popular among the older generation but it has now made its way to the younger generation. Younger individuals can be prescribed benzodiazepines, children being prescribed benzodiazepines has doubled in the last 20 years. It is not uncommon for young adults to be prescribed, have a parent that has a prescription, or knows someone who has a prescription (Liles, 2019). If young adults don't have prescriptions for benzodiazepines they can find a supplier through their social media. Young adults are taking benzodiazepines for recreational use or medical use. This substance can be used to help anxiety or even for sleeping. When young adults get their hands on this type of substance they are not aware of the possible abuse or dependence they can create for themselves. If a young adult or even an adult for that matter gets prescribed a benzodiazepine in two to three months they can become physically and psychologically dependent on this substance (Liles, 2019).
(Medicating Normal, 2020).
HOW ARE BENZODIAZEPINES USED
Benzodiazepines can be used orally, snorting, smoking, and injecting (Lautieri, 2020). Those that are taking benzodiazepines might resort to taking the substance a different way in order to intensify the effects they feel when they just take it orally. Benzodiazepines were not made to safely use intranasal, snorting this substance can cause inflammation, nasal mucosal irritation, nose bleeds, runny nose, loss of smell, ulceration, and increased airway reactivity (Lautieri, 2020). Snorting benzodiazepines can also lead to Hepatitis C (HCV), due to implements used to snorting the crushed up pills (Lautieri, 2020). Smoking benzodiazepines are more popular among youth who are socially involved. Individuals that choose the method of smoking to have an increased health risk of chronic cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chronic bronchitis (Lautieri, 2020). Injecting benzodiazepines is a less common form of a method than smoking and snorting is (Lautieri, 2020). The reason being is that majority of benzodiazepines are not water-soluble and are hard to prepare for an injectable solution (Lautieri, 2020). Some health risk include bacterial infections, abscesses, infection of the heart lining, damage to veins, scarring, the transmission of HIV or HCV, and stroke (Lautieri, 2020)
COMMON NICKNAMES
Benzodiazepines have many nicknames. Such as Bars, Benzos, Chill Pills, Downers, Nerve Pills, Planks, Tranks, and Zannies (Addiction Center, 2021). The one nickname that is used a lot is benzo.
CLASSIFICATION OF BENZODIAZEPINES
"These drugs function by interacting with a neurotransmitter called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)" (Sclar, 2021). These types of drugs create a calming and sedative effect. Benzodiazepines are highly addictive.
(Griffin, Kaye, Bueno, & Kaye, 2013).
BIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Side effects include
- Drowsiness
- Lethargy
- Fatigue
- (Griffin, Kaye, Bueno, & Kaye, 2013)
At higher doses of benzodiazepines
- Impair Motor Coordination
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Slurred Speech
- Blurry Vision
- Mood Swings
- Euphoria
- Hostile or Erratic Behavior
- (Griffin, Kaye, Bueno, & Kaye, 2013)
Benzodiazepines go through the body slowly. Repeated doses over a prolonged period can significantly accumulate in fatty tissue (Griffin, Kaye, Bueno, & Kaye, 2013). Tolerance, dependence, along withdrawal, are affected with long-term use.
References
Addiction Center. (2021). Drug street names. https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/drug-street-n
Griffin, E., C., Kaye, M., A., Bueno, R., F., & Kaye M., A. (2013). Benzodiazepine pharmacology and central nervous system-mediated effects. PMC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3684331/
Liles, M. (2019, November 11). 'Benzos' are rising in popularity among teens, and they're getting them on social media. Parents. https://www.parents.com/kids/problems/drug-abuse/benzos-use-among-teens/
Lautieri, A. (2020, August 21). Benzodiazepines: Methods of Use and Abuse. American Addiction Centers. https://recoveryfirst.org/benzodiazepines/methods-of-use/
Medicating Normal. (2020, April 17). A pharmacist speaks about the dangers of benzodiazepines. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l53VAAU4akQ&t=7s
NIH. (2018). Benzodiazepines and opioids. National Institute on drug abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/benzodiazepines-opioids
National Inventors Hall of Fame. (2021). Leo H. Sternbach. https://www.invent.org/inductees/leo-h-sternbach
Smith, A., M. (2019, October 28). Long-term use of benzodiazepines-avoiding another drug crisis. ADAA. https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/professional/long-term-use-benzodiazepines-avoiding
Sclar, K. (2021). How are drugs classified? Rehabs.com. https://luxury.rehabs.com/drug-abuse/classifications/
Wick, Y., J. (2013, September 28). The history of benzodiazepines. NIH. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24007886/
There were quite a few things in your post that I wanted to comment on.
1. The history of benzodiazepines is very interesting that people thought they were less toxic and wouldn't form dependence and therefore were prescribed frequently. Now we know how addictive they are and prescribers are much more careful about giving prescriptions for these medications. It seems a similar thing perhaps occurred with opioids. People were prescribed opioids so frequently and people became addicted to them. Now opioids are highly regulated as well. I feel like the opioid crisis is widely known, but I don't feel like the problem with benzodiazepines is as much common knowledge. Do you think that the problem with benzos is frequently known by the common person?
2. You mentioned that children are being prescribed benzodiazepines and the number has drastically increased over the past 20 years for this. What diagnoses are children being prescribed benzos for so frequently?
3. Benzos are meant to "slow things down" by producing calming effects for anxiety and insomnia. You mentioned that at higher doses, benzos can create hostile or erratic behavior. Why is this?
Cortney-
ReplyDeleteThere were quite a few things in your post that I wanted to comment on.
1. The history of benzodiazepines is very interesting that people thought they were less toxic and wouldn't form dependence and therefore were prescribed frequently. Now we know how addictive they are and prescribers are much more careful about giving prescriptions for these medications. It seems a similar thing perhaps occurred with opioids. People were prescribed opioids so frequently and people became addicted to them. Now opioids are highly regulated as well. I feel like the opioid crisis is widely known, but I don't feel like the problem with benzodiazepines is as much common knowledge. Do you think that the problem with benzos is frequently known by the common person?
2. You mentioned that children are being prescribed benzodiazepines and the number has drastically increased over the past 20 years for this. What diagnoses are children being prescribed benzos for so frequently?
3. Benzos are meant to "slow things down" by producing calming effects for anxiety and insomnia. You mentioned that at higher doses, benzos can create hostile or erratic behavior. Why is this?
Austin