Sedative-Hypnotic / BDZ Dependence
Sedative-Hypnotic / BDZ Dependence
Sedative-Hypnotic / BDZ Dependence
BDZ dependence develops with long-term use of benzodiazepines (BDZ), psychoactive drugs that act as sedatives or minor tranquilizers.
BDZs act on receptors on the central nervous system (CNS) and have calming, hypnotic, anti-anxiety, anti-seizure, and muscle relaxant properties. These effects make BDZs useful for the short-term treatment of anxiety, panic, agitation, insomnia, seizures, and muscle spasms.
BDZs are usually taken in pill form, but they can also be taken by injection, intravenously, or as a suppository.
Prevalence
According to the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, 30.6 million adults used benzodiazepines in 2015 – 2016. Approximately twice as many women as men are prescribed BDZ. It is hypothesized that this is largely because men usually turn to alcohol to cope with struggles whereas women resort to taking prescription drugs such as BDZ.
Symptoms of dependence on sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic drugs:
BDZ dependence is a maladaptive pattern of BDZ use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress that is manifested by three or more of the following, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period:
Therapeutic dose dependence is the largest category of people dependent on BDZ. These individuals typically do not escalate their doses to high levels or abuse their medication. Smaller groups include patients escalating their dosage to higher levels and people who use BDZ recreationally.
Risk factors of dependence on sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic drugs:
A minority of people, such as the elderly, can have disturbing reactions to BDZ such as worsened agitation or panic. When combined with other CNS depressants such as alcoholic drinks and opioids like codeine, morphine, and heroin, the potential for fatal overdose increases due to the ways they interact.
BDZ should only be taken for 2 to 4 weeks as taking it over longer periods leads to dependence, which can cause impairment of social, occupational, and academic functioning and can lead to interpersonal problems. It also carries the risk of cancer and dementia.
Treatment for dependence on Sedative, Hypnotic or Anxiolytic drugs:
Management of BDZ dependence includes medication and psychological interventions because of the high rebound and withdrawal risks of discontinuing use abruptly.
Symptoms of dependence on sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic drugs:
BDZ dependence is a maladaptive pattern of BDZ use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress that is manifested by three or more of the following, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period:
Therapeutic dose dependence is the largest category of people dependent on BDZ. These individuals typically do not escalate their doses to high levels or abuse their medication. Smaller groups include patients escalating their dosage to higher levels and people who use BDZ recreationally.
Risk factors of dependence on sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic drugs:
A minority of people, such as the elderly, can have disturbing reactions to BDZ such as worsened agitation or panic. When combined with other CNS depressants such as alcoholic drinks and opioids like codeine, morphine, and heroin, the potential for fatal overdose increases due to the ways they interact.
BDZ should only be taken for 2 to 4 weeks as taking it over longer periods leads to dependence, which can cause impairment of social, occupational, and academic functioning and can lead to interpersonal problems. It also carries the risk of cancer and dementia.