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Benzodiazepines: Difference between revisions

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'''Benzodiazepines''' (commonly referred to as '''benzos''') are a class of psychoactive substances that act as central nervous system [[depressants]]. These substances work by magnifying the efficiency and effects of the principal inhibitory [[neurotransmitter]] '''gamma-aminobutyric acid''' ([[GABA]]) by binding to and acting on its receptors.<ref>Benzodiazepine interactions with GABA receptors (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6147796</ref>  
'''Benzodiazepines''' (commonly referred to as '''benzos''') are a class of psychoactive substances that act as central nervous system [[depressants]]. These substances work by magnifying the efficiency and effects of the principal inhibitory [[neurotransmitter]] '''gamma-aminobutyric acid''' ([[GABA]]) by binding to and acting on its receptors.<ref>Benzodiazepine interactions with GABA receptors (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6147796</ref>  


The characteristic effects of benzodiazepines include [[anxiety suppression]], [[sedation]], [[muscle relaxation]], [[disinhibition]], [[sleepiness]] and [[amnesia]]. In a medical context, short-acting benzodiazepines are typically recommended for treating insomnia or acute anxiety or panic attack disorders while long-acting ones are recommended for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorders.
The characteristic effects of benzodiazepines include [[anxiety suppression]], [[sedation]], [[muscle relaxation]], [[disinhibition]], [[sleepiness]] and [[amnesia]]. In a medical context, short-acting benzodiazepines are typically recommended for treating insomnia or acute panic attacks while long-acting ones are recommended for the treatment of anxiety disorders.<ref>Pharmacological Treatment of Mental Disorders in Primary Health Care | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK143206/</ref>


{{BenzoWarning}}
{{BenzoWarning}}
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<ul class="featured-table">
<ul class="featured-table">
<li class="featured list-item">
<li class="featured list-item">
* [[Clonazepam]]
*[[Clonazepam]]
* [[Diazepam]]
*[[Diazepam]]
* [[Diclazepam]]
*[[Diclazepam]]
* [[Flubromazepam]]
*[[Flubromazepam]]
* [[Lorazepam]]
*[[Lorazepam]]
* [[Nifoxipam]]
*[[Nifoxipam]]
* [[Nordazepam]]
*[[Nordazepam]]
* [[Oxazepam]]
*[[Oxazepam]]
* [[Phenazepam]]
*[[Phenazepam]]
* [[Temazepam]]
*[[Temazepam]]
</li>
</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<li class="featured list-item">
<li class="featured list-item">


* [[Brotizolam]]
*[[Brotizolam]]
* [[Bentazepam]]
*[[Bentazepam]]
* [[Deschloroetizolam]]
*[[Deschloroetizolam]]
* [[Etizolam]]
*[[Etizolam]]
* [[Metizolam]]
*[[Metizolam]]


</li>
</li>
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<ul class="featured-table">
<ul class="featured-table">
<li class="featured list-item">
<li class="featured list-item">
* [[Alprazolam]]
*[[Alprazolam]]
* [[Triazolam]]
*[[Triazolam]]
* [[Estazolam]]
*[[Estazolam]]
* [[Pyrazolam]]
*[[Pyrazolam]]
* [[Flubromazolam]]
*[[Flubromazolam]]
* [[Clonazolam]]
*[[Clonazolam]]
* [[Flunitrazolam]]
*[[Flunitrazolam]]
* [[Nitrazolam]]
*[[Nitrazolam]]


</li>
</li>
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<ul class="featured-table">
<ul class="featured-table">
<li class="featured list-item">
<li class="featured list-item">
* [[Deschloroetizolam]]
*[[Deschloroetizolam]]
* [[Etizolam]]
*[[Etizolam]]
* [[Metizolam]]
*[[Metizolam]]
* [[Brotizolam]]
*[[Brotizolam]]
</li>
</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<li class="featured list-item">
<li class="featured list-item">


* [[Midazolam]]
*[[Midazolam]]
* [[Loprazolam]]
*[[Loprazolam]]


</li>
</li>
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{| class="panel radius wikitable"
{| class="panel radius wikitable"
|-
|-
| '''Prescription benzodiazepines''' || Half-life (Hours)<br>[active metabolite]|| Approx. equivalent<br> oral dosage (mg) || Predominant effect <br>(a= [[anxiolytic]],<br> c= [[anticonvulsant]],<br> h= [[hypnotic]])
|'''Prescription benzodiazepines'''||Half-life (Hours)<br>[active metabolite]||Approx. equivalent<br> oral dosage (mg)||Predominant effect <br>(a= [[anxiolytic]],<br> c= [[anticonvulsant]],<br> h= [[hypnotic]])
|-
|-
| '''[[Alprazolam]]''' || 6-12 || 0.5|| a
|'''[[Alprazolam]]'''||6-12||0.5||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Bromazepam]]''' || 10-20 || 5-6 || a
|'''[[Bromazepam]]'''||10-20||5-6||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Chlordiazapoxide]]''' || 5-30 [36-200] || 25 || a
|'''[[Chlordiazapoxide]]'''||5-30 [36-200]||25||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Clobazam]]''' || 12-60 || 20 || a, c
|'''[[Clobazam]]'''||12-60||20||a, c
|-
|-
| '''[[Clonazepam]]''' || 18-50 || 0.5 || a, c
|'''[[Clonazepam]]'''||18-50||0.5||a, c
|-
|-
| '''[[Clorazepate]]''' ||20-179 [36-200]|| 15 || a
|'''[[Clorazepate]]'''||20-179 [36-200]||15||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Diazepam]]''' || 20-100 [36-200] ||10|| a, h, c
|'''[[Diazepam]]'''||20-100 [36-200]||10||a, h, c
|-
|-
| '''[[Estazolam]]''' || 10-24 || 1-2 || h
|'''[[Estazolam]]'''||10-24||1-2||h
|-
|-
| '''[[Etizolam]]''' || 4-12 || 1 || a
|'''[[Etizolam]]'''||4-12||1||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Flunitrazepam]]''' || 18-36 [36-200] || 1 || h
|'''[[Flunitrazepam]]'''||18-36 [36-200]||1||h
|-
|-
| '''[[Flurazepam]]''' || 40-250 || 15-30 || h
|'''[[Flurazepam]]'''||40-250||15-30||h
|-
|-
| '''[[Halazepam]]''' || 14 [30-200] || 20 || a
|'''[[Halazepam]]'''||14 [30-200]||20||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Ketazolam]]''' || 30-100 [36-200] || 15-30 || a
|'''[[Ketazolam]]'''||30-100 [36-200]||15-30||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Loprazolam]]''' || 6-12 || 1-2 || h
|'''[[Loprazolam]]'''||6-12||1-2||h
|-
|-
| '''[[Lorazepam]]''' || 10-20 || 1 || a, c
|'''[[Lorazepam]]'''||10-20||1||a, c
|-
|-
| '''[[Lormetazepam]]''' || 10-12 || 1-2 || h
|'''[[Lormetazepam]]'''||10-12||1-2||h
|-
|-
| '''[[Medazepam]]''' || 36-200 || 10 || a
|'''[[Medazepam]]'''||36-200||10||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Nitrazepam]]''' || 15-38 || 10 || h
|'''[[Nitrazepam]]'''||15-38||10||h
|-
|-
| '''[[Nordazepam]]''' || 36-200 || 10 || a
|'''[[Nordazepam]]'''||36-200||10||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Oxazepam]]''' || 4-15 || 20 || a
|'''[[Oxazepam]]'''||4-15||20||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Prazepam]]''' || 29-224 [36-200] || 10-20 || a
|'''[[Prazepam]]'''||29-224 [36-200]||10-20||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Quazepam]]''' || 25-100 || 20 || h
|'''[[Quazepam]]'''||25-100||20||h
|-
|-
| '''[[Temazepam]]''' || 8-22|| 20 || h
|'''[[Temazepam]]'''||8-22||20||h
|-
|-
| '''[[Triazolam]]''' || 2 || 0.5 || h
|'''[[Triazolam]]'''||2||0.5||h
|}
|}
</div>
</div>
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{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
| '''''[[Research chemicals]]''''' || Half-life (Hours)<br>[active metabolite] || Approx. equivalent<br> oral dosage (mg) || Predominant effect <br>(a= [[anxiolytic]],<br> c= [[anticonvulsant]],<br> h= [[hypnotic]])
|'''''[[Research chemicals]]'''''||Half-life (Hours)<br>[active metabolite]||Approx. equivalent<br> oral dosage (mg)||Predominant effect <br>(a= [[anxiolytic]],<br> c= [[anticonvulsant]],<br> h= [[hypnotic]])
|-
|-
| '''[[Clonazolam]]''' || ? || 0.2 || h
|'''[[Clonazolam]]'''||?||0.2||h
|-
|-
| '''[[Deschloroetizolam]]''' || ~9-20 || 6 || a
|'''[[Deschloroetizolam]]'''||~9-20||6||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Diclazepam]]''' || ~120 || 1 || a, h
|'''[[Diclazepam]]'''||~120||1||a, h
|-
|-
| '''[[Flubromazepam]]''' || 106 || 4 || h
|'''[[Flubromazepam]]'''||106||4||h
|-
|-
| '''[[Flubromazolam]]''' || ? || 0.25 || h
|'''[[Flubromazolam]]'''||?||0.25||h
|-
|-
| '''[[Nifoxipam]]''' || 4-6 || 2 || a
|'''[[Nifoxipam]]'''||4-6||2||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Meclonazepam]]''' || ? || 5 || a, c
|'''[[Meclonazepam]]'''||?||5||a, c
|-
|-
| '''[[Metizolam]]''' || ~9-20 || 2 || a
|'''[[Metizolam]]'''||~9-20||2||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Phenazepam]]''' || 60 || 1 || a
|'''[[Phenazepam]]'''||60||1||a
|-
|-
| '''[[Pyrazolam]]''' || 17 || 1 || a
|'''[[Pyrazolam]]'''||17||1||a
|}
|}
</div>
</div>
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{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
| '''''[[Z-drugs]]''''' || Half-life (Hours)<br>[active metabolite] || Approx. equivalent<br> oral dosage (mg) || Predominant effect <br>(a= [[anxiolytic]],<br> c= [[anticonvulsant]],<br> h= [[hypnotic]])
|'''''[[Z-drugs]]'''''||Half-life (Hours)<br>[active metabolite]||Approx. equivalent<br> oral dosage (mg)||Predominant effect <br>(a= [[anxiolytic]],<br> c= [[anticonvulsant]],<br> h= [[hypnotic]])
|-
|-
| '''[[Zaleplon]]''' || 2 || 20 || h
|'''[[Zaleplon]]'''||2||20||h
|-
|-
| '''[[Zolpidem]]''' || 2 || 20 || h
|'''[[Zolpidem]]'''||2||20||h
|-
|-
| '''[[Zopiclone]]''' || 5-6 || 15 || h
|'''[[Zopiclone]]'''||5-6||15||h
|-
|-
| '''[[Eszopiclone]]''' || 6 || 3 || h
|'''[[Eszopiclone]]'''||6||3||h
|}
|}
</div>
</div>
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==Preparation methods==
==Preparation methods==
*'''[[Volumetric liquid dosing]]''' - If one's benzodiazepines are in powder form, they are unlikely to weigh out accurately without the most expensive of scales due to their extreme potency. To avoid this, one can dissolve the benzodiazepine volumetrically into a solution and dose it accurately based upon the methodological instructions linked within this tutorial [[Volumetric liquid dosing|here]].
*'''[[Volumetric liquid dosing]]''' - If one's benzodiazepines are in powder form, they are unlikely to weigh out accurately without the most expensive of scales due to their extreme potency. To avoid this, one can dissolve the benzodiazepine volumetrically into a solution and dose it accurately based upon the methodological instructions linked within this tutorial [[Volumetric liquid dosing|here]].


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When combined with benzodiazepines, the visual hallucinations induced by [[hallucinogenic]] substances (particularly [[psychedelics]]) may significantly decrease along with any underlying [[anxiety]] that may be present.{{citation needed}}
When combined with benzodiazepines, the visual hallucinations induced by [[hallucinogenic]] substances (particularly [[psychedelics]]) may significantly decrease along with any underlying [[anxiety]] that may be present.{{citation needed}}


Along with [[antipsychotics]] such as [[quetiapine]] (''Seroquel''), benzodiazepines are commonly [[administered]] in hospital settings to treat patients presenting symptoms of hallucinogen overdose or [[psychosis]].{{citation needed}}
Along with [[antipsychotics]] such as [[quetiapine]] (''Seroquel''), benzodiazepines are commonly [[administered]] in hospital settings to treat patients presenting symptoms of hallucinogen overdose or [[psychosis]].<ref>Benzodiazepines alone or in combination with antipsychotic drugs for acute psychosis | https://www.cochrane.org/CD003079/SCHIZ_benzodiazepines-alone-or-combination-antipsychotic-drugs-acute-psychosis</ref>


==Toxicity and harm potential==
==Toxicity and harm potential==
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==See also==
==See also==
*[[Responsible use]]
*[[Responsible use]]
*[[Psychoactive substance index]]
*[[Psychoactive substance index]]
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==External links==
==External links==
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepine Benzodiazepines (Wikipedia)]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepine Benzodiazepines (Wikipedia)]
*[https://www.erowid.org/pharms/benzodiazepine/ Benzodiazepines (Erowid Vault)]
*[https://www.erowid.org/pharms/benzodiazepine/ Benzodiazepines (Erowid Vault)]
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==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*[http://www.csam-asam.org/sites/default/files/pdf/misc/Juergens.pdf Understanding Benzodiazepines by Steven M. Juergens MD]
*[http://www.csam-asam.org/sites/default/files/pdf/misc/Juergens.pdf Understanding Benzodiazepines by Steven M. Juergens MD]


Retrieved from "http://psy.st/wiki/Benzodiazepines"