Risks of Benzodiazepines

What are Benzodiazepines (BZDs)?
Benzodiazepines are medications that lower the activity of the nerves in the brain and cause you to be drowsy.1
 
Key Facts
  • Benzodiazepines should be used carefully under close direction of a prescriber.
  • Not using benzodiazepines for the right reason or using them for too long can lead to dependence, addiction, severe side effects, or even death.
  • Stopping benzodiazepines should be done by slowly lowering the dose over weeks to months with careful direction from a prescriber to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
References
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  4. American Geriatrics Society 2023 updated AGS Beers Criteria® for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. J Am Geriatrics Soc. 2023 Jul;71(7):2052-2081. Wiley; 2023 Jul. DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18372.
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  6. Benzodiazepines and Opioids. [Internet]. 2018 Mar 15 [cited 2018 Sep 4]. 2018 Mar 15. Available from: https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/benzodiazepines-opioids.
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  9. GUINA J, ROSSETTER SR, DeRHODES BJ, NAHHAS RW, WELTON RS. Benzodiazepines for PTSD. J Psychiatric Pract. 2015 Jul;21(4):281-303. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health); 2015 Jul. DOI: 10.1097/pra.0000000000000091.
  10. FDA Drug Safety Communication. n.d. [cited 2022 Jun 3]. n.d..
  11. Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings. [Internet]. 2009. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310654/.
  12. GUINA J, ROSSETTER SR, DeRHODES BJ, NAHHAS RW, WELTON RS. Benzodiazepines for PTSD. J Psychiatric Pract. 2015 Jul;21(4):281-303. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health); 2015 Jul. DOI: 10.1097/pra.0000000000000091.
  13. GUINA J, ROSSETTER SR, DeRHODES BJ, NAHHAS RW, WELTON RS. Benzodiazepines for PTSD. J Psychiatric Pract. 2015 Jul;21(4):281-303. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health); 2015 Jul. DOI: 10.1097/pra.0000000000000091.