Global Benzodiazepine Drugs Market, by Time of Action

Among the more common benzodiazepines are diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and alprazolam (Xanax).

* Some guidelines have suggested converting the prescribed benzodiazepine to an equivalent dose of diazepam because of its long half-life, and then reducing the diazepam dose by one-eighth every 2 weeks.

The team of researchers led by Donovan Maust suggests that patients also prescribed stimulants or opioids should be monitored for benzodiazepine misuse.

"Although long-term benzodiazepine use among patients with COPD and PTSD is not linked with overall mortality, the association with suicide is concerning," Donovan said in a statement.

Moreover, the data collected in Spain reflect the high prevalence of benzodiazepines in the population over 75 years, as this age group receives a higher rate of prescriptions (Bejarano-Romero et al., 2008) and thus, there is a higher inherent risk for benzodiazepine abuse and dependence.

Josie Smith, programme and national lead for substance misuse in Public Health Wales, said: "This is a very concerning trend, not only due to the dose variation in the substances, with therapeutic doses ranging from 0.25mg to 20mg depending on the benzodiazepine, but also due to the substance half-life, which affects how long the drug takes to 'act'.

Also controversial is use of atypical antipsychotics as third-line pharmacotherapy, "but many geriatric psychiatrists would agree with me that the next step if the patient is still agitated despite an SSRI augmented with a benzodiazepine is to consider a trial of an atypical antipsychotic," Dr.

Benzodiazepines. Psychotropic and anticonvulsant agents.

-- After an extensive review of the latest scientific evidence, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it is requiring class-wide changes to drug labeling, including patient information, to help inform health care providers and patients of the serious risks associated with the combined use of certain opioid medications and a class of central nervous system (CNS) depressant drugs called benzodiazepines.

Benzodiazepine detoxification has been widely used for alcohol detoxification, which is also an inhibitory substance.

While opioid addiction and overdose continue to gain attention nationally, the United States has seen an increase in benzodiazepine prescriptions and overdose mortality in the past two decades.

Benzodiazepine (BZD), often called "benzos", are a class of psychoactive drugs resulting in sedative and hynotic and anti-anxiety properties.

Besides the period of use, there is some concern about the type of benzodiazepine prescribed, the long-acting ones are not recommended for older adults (10,16) because they take longer for the body to eliminate them and for being associated to alterations arising from the ageing process, they may become risk factors for adverse effects (2,15).