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Benzodiazepine abuse is steadily increasing and is now a major public health problem. Benzodiazepine abuse is mostly limited to individuals who abuse other drugs, i.e. poly-drug abusers. Most prescribed users do not abuse their medication, however, some high dose prescribed users do become involved with the illicit drug scene. Abuse of ...
Alprazolam, sold under the brand name Xanax among others, is a fast-acting, potent tranquilizer of moderate duration within the triazolobenzodiazepine group of chemicals called benzodiazepines. [15] Alprazolam is most commonly prescribed in the management of anxiety disorders , especially panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). [ 9 ]
Benzodiazepines can be addictive and induce dependence even at low doses, with 23% becoming addicted within 3 months of use. Benzodiazepine addiction is considered a public health problem. Approximately 68.5% of prescriptions of benzodiazepines originate from local health centers, with psychiatry and general hospitals accounting for 10% each.
An Australian study (2004) of overdose admissions between 1987 and 2002 found alprazolam, which happens to be the most prescribed benzodiazepine in Australia and the United States, to be more toxic than diazepam and the other three benzodiazepines which it was compared to (alprazolam, diazepam, oxazepam, chlordiazepoxide, and clonazepam).
benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and alprazolam (Xanax) (see benzodiazepine dependence and benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome) nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics such as zopiclone and zolpidem. [12] gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and 1,4-butanediol [13] carisoprodol (Soma) and related carbamates (tybamate and meprobamate)
A study found that of 42 patients treated with alprazolam, up to a third of long-term users of the benzodiazepine drug alprazolam develop depression. [40] Studies have shown that long-term use of benzodiazepines and the benzodiazepine receptor agonist nonbenzodiazepine Z drugs are associated with causing depression as well as a markedly raised ...
A study into the effects of the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, flumazenil, on benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms persisting after withdrawal was carried out by Lader and Morton. Study subjects had been benzodiazepine-free for between one month and five years, but all reported persisting withdrawal effects to varying degrees.
However, some agents including bupropion, naltrexone and mirtazapine have demonstrated positive effects in treating addiction to amphetamine-type stimulants. [44] Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors have shown to be a potential treatment target. [53] Notably, benzodiazepines addiction often occurs as a result of polydrug abuse, most commonly with ...