Background and General Information on Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for anxiety and insomnia
It is estimated that around 3.4% of adults are prescribed benzodiazepines.
All benzodiazepines exert their effects through pronounced central nervous system depression by modulating GABAA receptors, enhancing the inhibitory effects of GABA.
This mechanism leads to five major effects:
- Sedation
- Amnesia
- Anxiolysis
- Generalized muscle-relaxant
- Anticonvulsant
These effects may vary based on the specific benzodiazepine.
Benzodiazepines can be used in the acute setting for the management of patients with severe alcohol withdrawal or acute psychosis with hyperexcitability and aggressiveness, by mimicking the GABA-related effects of alcohol.
They are first-line medications for acute management of seizures
We won’t go into detail about this in this section, but you can find additional resources below.
Misuse and overdose are concerns
Nearly one in six patients prescribed a benzodiazepine has reported misuse. The strongest risk factor for benzodiazepine misuse is a comorbid substance use disorder. Overdose mortality is a real threat and most commonly occurs in the presence of opioid use.
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Benzodiazepines Are Prescribed More Frequently To Patients Already At Risk For Benzodiazepine-Related Adverse Events In Primary Care
Clinicians prescribed benzodiazepines and high-dose benzodiazepines more frequently to patients at higher risk for benzodiazepine-related adverse events. Benzodiazepine prescribing was associated with increased healthcare utilization.
Benzodiazopine Toolkit-Background/General Information
Past-year use of prescription opioids and/or benzodiazepines among adults in the United States: Estimating medical and nonmedical use in 2015-2016.
This article evaluates medical and non-medical use of prescription opioids and/or benzodiazepines in the past year among adults in the U.S.. It highlights special attention needed to prevent unnecessary co-prescribing of these medications, particularly among young adults.
Benzodiazopine Toolkit-Background/General Information
Trends In Nonfatal And Fatal Overdoses Involving Benzodiazepines — 38 States And The District Of Columbia
This articles observes how nonfatal and fatal drug overdoses increased overall from 2019 to 2020. Illicit benzodiazepines were increasingly detected among postmortem and clinical samples in 2020, often with opioids, and might have contributed to overall increases in drug overdoses.
Benzodiazopine Toolkit-Background/General Information
General Practitioners’ Experiences And Perceptions Of Benzodiazepine Prescribing: Systematic Review And Meta-Synthesis
This review included eight studies from seven countries published between 1993 and 2010. Benzodiazepine prescribing decisions are complex, uncomfortable, and demanding, taken within the constraints of daily general practice. Different GPs varied in the extent to which they were willing to prescribe benzodiazepines, and individual GPs’ approaches also varied.
Benzodiazopine Toolkit-Background/General Information
Benzodiazepines in the Management of Seizures and Status Epilepticus: A Review of Routes of Delivery, Pharmacokinetics, Efficacy, and Tolerability
This narrative review provides an overview of the current knowledge on the efficacy and tolerability of different BZDs, with a focus on different routes of administration and therapeutic specificities for different patient groups, and offers an outlook on potential future drug developments for the treatment of prolonged seizures and SE.
Benzodiazopine Toolkit-Background/General Information
Epilepsy Foundation: Seizure Rescue Medications
This webpage details the ways benzodiazepines can be used as a rescue medication for seizures, and how to use them.
Benzodiazopine Toolkit-Background/General Information
Better Health Channel: Benzodiazepines
Extensive information for the lay public
Benzodiazopine Toolkit-Background/General Information
Vermont Department of Health: What You Need To Know About Opioids & Benzodiazepines
A fact sheet for patients providing information on what opioids and benzodiazepines are, their interactions, and best practices and caution when taken together.
Benzodiazopine Toolkit-Background/General Information
Benzodiazepine Information Coalition
Extensive information for providers and the lay public on benzodiazepines.
Benzodiazopine Toolkit-Background/General Information
The Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices
Extensive information for providers and the lay public on benzodiazepine best practices.
Benzodiazopine Toolkit-Background/General Information
United States Drug Enforcement Administration: Benzodiazepines Fact Sheet
One page document with facts about Benzodiazepines; includes images of all types of tablets.
Benzodiazopine Toolkit-Background/General Information
Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention (Corx Consortium)
Find benzodiazepine resources for providers, patients, and their loved ones on this site.
Benzodiazopine Toolkit-Background/General Information