This factsheet provides information about benzodiazepine medication. This is often used to treat anxiety. It is generally a short term treatment if you are very distressed because of your anxiety or if your anxiety has become very severe.
 Benzodiazepines are medications which are used to treat anxiety.
 You may experience side effects from taking this kind of medication. If you are experiencing side effects that are causing you concern, you should see your doctor.
 It is possible to become dependent on benzodiazepines. Therefore, it is recommended that they should not be used for longer than one month.
 When you stop taking benzodiazepines, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. It is important to seek advice from your doctor before stopping them. It may be better to stop them gradually, particularly if you have been taking them regularly for longer than one month.
 Whilst taking benzodiazepines, you may find that drinking alcohol makes you sleepier. They can also increase the effect of alcohol..
 Whilst taking benzodiazepines, your ability to drive may be affected.
This factsheet covers –
1. How do benzodiazepines work?
2. What different types of benzodiazepines are there?
3. What are the possible side effects?
4. What about stopping benzodiazepines?
5. How will my benzodiazepine affect other medication?
6. Will drinking alcohol affect my benzodiazepines?
7. Can I drive when taking benzodiazepines?
8. What about sex, pregnancy and medication?
Benzodiazepines
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1. How do benzodiazepines work?
When you are anxious, your brain becomes more active. It may then produce a chemical messenger (or ‘neurotransmitter’) called GABA (short for gamma-aminobutyric acid) that makes you feel calmer. GABA is the brain’s naturally occurring ‘calmer’. The benzodiazepines make the action of GABA more powerful and this helps to calm people down.
Benzodiazepines are recommended as an emergency treatment that should not be used for more than 1 month. Benzodiazepines should not be used for panic disorder. They should not be used as a routine treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, except as a short-term measure during a crisis.1
These drugs are not usually helpful for conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder but may be used in emergency situations needing rapid calming.
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2. What different types of benzodiazepines are there?
Types of benzodiazepines are normally grouped by the length of time over which they act (called a half-life), with shorter acting benzodiazepines called ‘hypnotics’ and longer acting benzodiazepines called ‘anxiolytics’.
Hypnotics are used for those experiencing difficulties sleeping (insomnia). Anxiolytic type benzodiazepines help to reduce anxiety, agitation and tension.2 For both of these types of benzodiazepine, using them should only be for the shortest amount of time possible. Drugs that fall into the category of benzodiazepines include3 –
Benzodiazepines – Hypnotic effects
Benzodiazepines – Anxiolytic effects
Flurazepam
Alprazolam
Loprazolam
Chlordiazepoxide
Lormetazepam
Diazepam
Nitrazepam
Lorazepam
Temazepam
Oxazepam
These drugs can come as tablets, capsules and liquids. They should start to work fairly soon after you take them.
For longer term treatment, other options such as talking therapy should be considered.

3. What are the possible side effects?4
Like many drugs, taking benzodiazepines can cause side effects in some people.
Common side effects are:
 drowsiness or sleepiness
 dizziness
A less common side effect is being unsteady on your feet.
Rarer side effects include:
 headache
 confusion
 low blood pressure (you might feel dizzy when standing up)
 problems with remembering
 feeling aggressive, excitable, talkative, unfriendly or disinhibited.
If you get a blotchy rash, you should stop taking your benzodiazepines and see you doctor immediately.
Not everyone will experience side effects from taking benzodiazepines, but if you are getting side effects that you are worried about or that are causing you distress you should talk to your doctor about this.
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4. What about stopping taking benzodiazepines?
If you have been taking benzodiazepines regularly for more than 4-6 weeks, it is best not to stop taking them suddenly. It is possible to become dependent on benzodiazepines (an addiction which can be physical and psychological). At least a third of people who use benzodiazepines long-term experience problems when they try to reduce their dose or come off them completely.5
Stopping gradually is also more likely to help you stop taking benzodiazepines than just stopping suddenly.6 It is important to get advice from your doctor before stopping your benzodiazepine medication.
Some of the more common withdrawal problems include7 –
Physical
 stiffness
 weakness
 stomach problems
 flu-like symptoms
 visual problems
Psychological
 anxiety
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 insomnia (trouble sleeping)
 nightmares
 problems with memory and concentration
 depression
 experiencing things that are not there (hallucinations)
 fixed beliefs that may not correspond with other people’s reality (delusions)
Not everyone stopping benzodiazepine medication will experience these symptoms. For most people who do experience them, they usually stop after a few weeks. They can go on for much longer for a minority of people.
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5. How will benzodiazepines affect other medication?
This section is not exhaustive. You should tell your doctor of any medicines that you may be taking and also before starting or stopping other drugs. This includes herbal or complementary medications.
The effect of benzodiazepines to cause sedation or sleepiness can be increased with other medication with a similar effect. This can include among others, certain painkillers, antidepressants, antipsychotic medication, antihistamines, and beta-blockers.8
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6. Will drinking alcohol affect my benzodiazepines?
Drinking alcohol while taking benzodiazepine medication will make you more sleepy. This is particularly important to bear in mind if you may need to drive or operate machinery (see below). The medication can also increase the effect of alcohol, so it is best to avoid alcohol when taking benzodiazepines.9
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7. Can I drive when taking benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines can reduce your ability to carry out skilled tasks, such as driving or operating machinery. You may also feel drowsy the day after you take them. Until these effects wear off or you know how your drug affects you, do not drive or operate machinery. You should also take extra care, as benzodiazepines may affect your reaction times.10
You should inform the DVLA if you are taking medication that may affect your driving. You should also inform them if you have a medical condition that could affect your driving.
For further information on this, please see the Rethink Advice & Information Service factsheet ‘Driving and mental illness’ .This is available to download for free at http://www.rethink.org/factsheets or by contacting 0300 5000 927 and asking for a copy to be sent out to you.
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8. What about sex, pregnancy and medication?
Sex
Benzodiazepines do not have any known significant effects on people’s sex lives. Sleepiness or sedation caused by them may have an effect on sex life.11
Pregnancy12
Benzodiazepines probably do not cause problems with the physical development of the unborn child but are best avoided during late pregnancy. During the first three months of pregnancy, exposure to benzodiazepines is associated with an increased risk of oral clefts in newborns. Exposure during the last three months is commonly associated with the newborn baby being more limp than is usual. You are advised to contact your doctor to talk about options if you are planning to have a baby.
Breast feeding
The benefits and risks of breast feeding should be weighed up. Your options during this period should be discussed with your doctor or psychiatrist.
Diazepam is excreted in the breast milk from a nearly undetectable rate to nearly 14%. No adverse effects were noted for some babies being breastfed while their mother took diazepam, while others showed tiredness and weight loss. Lorazepam, temazepam and clonazepam are excreted in the breast milk in small amounts but few adverse effects are reported.13 It is strongly advised that you talk to your doctor about your options if you are planning to breast feed.
Council for Information on Tranquilizers, Antidepressants and Painkillers CITA is a service that provides a national helpline, support and information service for people affected by tranquilizers, antidepressants and painkillers. Their services can also be used by friends, family and professionals.
CITA
The JDI Centre
3-11 Mersey View
Waterloo
Liverpool
L22 6QA Helpline – 0151 932 0102 (10am-1pm, Monday to Friday, weekends and bank holidays) Email – cita@citap.org.uk Web – http://www.citawithdrawal.org.uk
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1 National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence. Generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia). Clinical Guidance 113, http://www.nice.org.uk. 2011.

http://www.bipolar4lifesupport.co on line support group