Chapter 10 Benzodiazepines

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Chapter 10- Benzodiazepines

• Anti-Anxiety

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Intro

• Introduced in 1960s
• Quickly replaced barbiturates
• 12 are used in the US Page113
• Treat insomnia, anxiety, seizures
• Addictive

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Medical Uses

• Remain the treatment of choice for anxiety
  disorders such as panic attacks or GAD
• Even though there are new Serotonin reuptake
  inhibitors- SSRI that are great for Anxiety
  physicans still use
• Seizure d/o- Clonipin works well

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Pharmacology

• Lipid soluble
• Taken orally
• Half-life of 1.7-100 hours
• Duration of effect for as long as 280 hours after
  single dose
• Inhances the effects of GABA-drug reduces the
  level of activity, lowering anxiety

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Side effects

• Sedation
• Drug induced hangovers
• Visual motor disturbances MVA

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Addiction

• Controversy over this
• Some say not addictive, while other say this drug
  should not be used longer that 4 weeks due to
  abuse
• W/D seizures, shakes, tremors, irritabiltiy,
  vomiting, insomnia, death
• Substance user more likely to abuse this drug,
  not to be administered to

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Withdrawal is difficult

• Taper very slowly for as long as 8-12 weeks
• Should use a mood stablizer such as Seroquel to
  help with the anxiety

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BuSpar

• Newer drug as good at controlling anxiety
• Rarely sedates
• Does not control seizures
• Great for treatment of anxiety where there is
  also depression
• Marketed as non-addictive

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Ambien

• New family of sleep inducing drug
• Dose should not exceed 10 mg per day
• Abuse potential low
• Should not be used in people with addictive d/o,
  effects can trigger use

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