BENZOS

BY JESSICA WILLIAMS

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
BENZODIAZEPINE
Benzodiazepines are a class
of psychoactive drug mainly
used to combat severe
anxiety. But research has
shown that it has been
known to help in many
different ways including
epilepsy, alcohol
withdrawal, insomnia,
daytime sedation and
muscle relaxation.

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY

It was discovered in 1964 by Leo
Sternbach, an Polish chemist
working for the pharmaceutical
company called Hoffmann-La
Roche in New Jersey.
The first drug, chlordiazepoxide
(Librium) was launched in the UK
in 1960, followed by diazepam
(Valium) in 1963. By 1983 there
were 17 benzodiazepines on the
market worldwide.

USAGE STATISTICS AND

DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
STUDY DONE BY SAMHSA 2012

Ages People Admitted to First using Benzos

11 Yrs and Under
Ages 35-50

Ages 12-20
51 Yrs and Over

Benzo use by gender

Ages 21-34

Male

Female

4%1%
14%

46%

34%

49%

51%

HOW DO THEY AFFECT THE

BRAIN???

GABA is one of the most common kinds of neural

receptors and it is estimated that 40% of all the
synapses in the human brain work with GABA and
therefore have receptors for it.
GABA resides in our brain cells. Each cell has up to
200,000 synapses and each synapse will have an
estimated 40 trillion GABA transmitters.

It is a channel receptor, which means it changes

shape to allow ions to pass through it and because it
mainly allows negatively charged chloride ions to
pass, it reduces excitability.
Benzos act on the central nervous system, binding
to the GABA Neurotransmitter to produce an
enhanced tranquilizing effect.

FINDING THE RIGHT ONE

Each medication has a different Duration of
Action (how long it affects you) and a different
half-life (how long it remains in your body). It
varies greatly depending on how it is prescribed
and can take effect anywhere from 20 minutes
to an hour.
The acute affects can range from mild, to
hilarious, to dangerous. Benzos with an ultrashort half-life sometimes do not show noticeable
symptoms. Short-acting medications can make
you seem like you are in a zombie state,
physically awake but not aware of anything and
highly susceptible to suggestion and coercion.
Long Acting medications produce sedative

METHOD OF TRANSPORT

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Benzodiazepines are one of the most
commonly prescribed medications in the
United States. Doctors can prescribe it for
legitimate medical concerns and are
suggested for short term use.
They are at times used with anesthesia to
calm a patient before and after surgery.
And most commonly with oral surgery,
Benzos can be used to induce
Intravenous Conscious Sedation also
known as Deep Conscious Sedation.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

Taken carelessly, Benzos can lead to abuse, addiction and
dependence.
People who abuse benzos are more likely to have severe chronic
affects including memory loss, loss of cognitive function, ataxia
and an increased risk of blood poisoning from the diluent used
making these medications.
The withdrawal process is nasty. It is one of three known drugs
that need a step down in order to ween off of. Abruptly quitting
can lead to seizures and death.
Although the drug itself is not generally fatal on its own, mixing
it with other drugs and alcohol can lead to tragic consequences

WHY ARE THEY ADDICTIVE?

The desirable sensations that make
a lot of illegal drugs addictive occur
when dopamine levels in the brain
abruptly surge.
Benzos weaken the effect of a group
of cells, called inhibitory
interneurons. These neurons
normally help prevent excessive
dopamine levels by decreasing the
firing rates of specific neurons.
When benzodiazepines limit those
restraining influences, it causes a
release of more dopamine.

USING BENZODIAZEPINE FOR

ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL
Chronic alcohol use creates an insensitivity to
the GABA transmitter, which is why you build a
tolerance to it. Glutamate is one of the major
excitatory amino acids and alcohol obstructs the
neurotransmitter. Only the constant presence of
ethanol preserves homeostasis. Abruptly
stopping results in over activity of the central
nervous system, shaky hands, sweating,
nausea, vomiting, headaches, insomnia and
seizures.
Benzos such as Librium help the symptoms that
occur during the withdrawal process. It acts like
alcohol, which helps your body stay in
homeostasis without the chance of relapse.

BENZOS AS ANTICONVULSANTS
Benzodiazepine has been known to
be a very effective anti-convulsant,
used for patients with epilepsy and
other drug related withdrawals.
Doctors will proscribe aggressively
for people who are in Status
Epilepticus a seizure that lasts for
longer than five minutes or more
than one seizure in five minute
period.
Antivan, Valium and Versed are the
most effective.

RECOVERY AND WITHDRAWAL

Increased irritability and/or
emotional outbursts
Inability to concentrate, perform
simple tasks and/or memory
problems
Body Aches, pains, and/or muscle
stiffness/soreness
Sleep disturbance
Anxiety and or panic attacks
Suicidal thoughts, seizures, death
(improper withdrawal process and
severe addiction)

WITHDRAWAL PROCESS

RAPID BENZODIAZEPINE DETOXIFICATION (RBD)

Benefit

This outpatient program uses an

accelerated detoxification method that
can complete the acute withdrawal
process in about 8 days. The patient
stops their benzodiazepines, and is
started on Flumazenil. It provides relief
for the withdrawal symptoms, and at the
same time removes benzodiazepines
from the patients body. All patients must
have a support person who will be with
them throughout the detox.

RAPID BENZODIAZEPINE
DETOXIFICATION (RBD)
Downside

RBD detox treatment is approximately $7,500.

This does not include transportation, lodging or
meals. No insurance is accepted. All expenses
are the responsibility of the patient and will be
collected at time of service.
Most patients are comfortable but every
procedure has its risks. You should not use if you
have been given a benzodiazepine for control of
a potentially life-threatening condition or if you
are experiencing side effects due to an overdose
of medicine used to treat depression.
You might not be eligible for this program. They
will take into consideration the reason you
began using, which will also help to predict how
easy it will be to get off of the drugs and stay off
of them.

WHY DOES IT WORK?

Flumazenil is a GABA receptor
antagonist. It attaches itself to the
receptors and binds so tightly that it
actually displaces any other
benzodiazepines. It stabilizes the
receptors so that patients relief from
the withdrawal symptoms.
Some clinicians believe that the
Flumazenil actually re-sets the
GABA receptors, back to a normal
state, so that after the therapy is
completed, most patients seem to

WHAT CAN HELP?

Two of the most powerful weapons to combat
anxiety are mindfulness meditation and
exercise. The body and brain need to relearn
how to work together and accomplish tasks.
Start with small things like taking short walks,
painting nails, drawing, journaling, learning
how to knit, singing or playing catch.
Few things are harder in life than watching
someone you love struggle with anxiety,
panic attacks or depression, and not have
anything within your power that can help.
Become balanced in your life.
Benzos do NOT cure anxiety. They are a short
term answer. You need to find the root of the
problem and find other ways to cope without

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<http://www.deardoctor.com/articles/oral-sedation-dentistry/page3.php>.
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