What is the most serious risk associated with the use of benzodiazepine?

Benzodiazepines increase the risk of addiction, withdrawal, cognitive decline, motor vehicle crashes, and hip fracture. The risk of overdose is particularly great when combined with sedative drugs such as opioids or alcohol.

What is the most serious adverse effect of benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepine addicts also have a higher risk of developing dementia, an illness affecting the brain that causes gradual memory loss and problems with language and motor skills, in the long term.

What is a risk associated with benzodiazepine use for anxiety disorders?

In addition to abuse and dependence, other major risks associated with benzodiazepine use include the following: Cognitive impairment. Benzodiazepines cause acute adverse effects: drowsiness, increased reaction time, ataxia, motor incoordination, and anterograde amnesia.

What are the typical side effects and interaction concerns with the benzodiazepines?

Who is most at risk for misusing benzodiazepines?

Adults ages 50–64 had the highest prescribed use (12.9%). Those ages 18–25 had the highest misuse (5.2%), and those ages ≥65 had the lowest (. 6%). Misuse and abuse of or dependence on prescription opioids or stimulants were strongly associated with benzodiazepine misuse.

Safe Use of Benzodiazepines: Clinical, Regulatory, and Public Health Perspectives - Day 1

What are the side effects of benzodiazepines?

What are the long-term effects of benzodiazepines?

The long-term use of benzodiazepines may have a similar effect on the brain as alcohol, and is also implicated in depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mania, psychosis, sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction, delirium, and neurocognitive disorders.

What is the most common side effect of diazepam?

Drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness, blurred vision, or unsteadiness may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.

What contra indications are associated with benzodiazepines?

Contraindications include known hypersensitivity to benzodiazepines and angle-closure glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when the intraocular pressure rises, thereby causing compression of the optic nerve near the posterior surface of the eye.

Can benzodiazepines cause death?

Benzodiazepines are also widely abused. Acute overdose is characterised by excessive sedation with impaired mental status and diminished postural stability and reflexes. Although benzodiazepines are relatively safe medications, acute overdose may induce respiratory depression resulting in coma and even death.

What are the short term effects of benzodiazepines?

Mood swings, short-term memory loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, suppressed appetite, hallucinations, and cognitive difficulties may be side effects of withdrawal from benzodiazepines in addition to the rebound symptoms.

Do benzodiazepines cause respiratory depression?

benzodiazepines (and benzodiazepine-like drugs) and opioid medicines (opioids) can both cause respiratory depression; when used together, additive effects on the central nervous system increase the risks of sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.

What are the nursing considerations for benzodiazepines?

Avoid alcohol while taking benzodiazepines. Avoid other CNS depressants unless prescribed to be taken together. The medication does not treat the underlying anxiety disorder, it just addresses the symptoms. Avoid breastfeeding while taking benzos as they can make the baby too drowsy and interfere with effective feeding ...

Can benzodiazepines cause hypertension?

Conclusion: The study confirmed a close association of hypertension with the use of benzodiazepines. The frequent use of benzodiazepines in the patients with hypertension might be caused by an inadequate response to antihypertensive drug therapy, besides anxiety and insomnia.

What are barbiturates side effects?

What do benzodiazepines do to the brain?

How Benzodiazepines Initially Affect The Brain. Benzodiazepines tranquilize and sedate the brain. In other words, taking this medication slows down activity in the central nervous system. This happens because benzodiazepines increase the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, in the brain.

Can benzodiazepines cause tachycardia?

The patient described in the case above shows classic signs of benzodiazepine withdrawal, including anxiety, autonomic instability causing tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, diaphoresis, insomnia, and tremors.

Who should not take benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines should be avoided in patients with a history of drug abuse. Common benzodiazepines used for GAD include alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, and lorazepam. Mirtazapine (Remeron) and buspirone are also effective in GAD for patients who do not respond to at least two trials of SSRIs or SNRIs.

What are indications for benzodiazepines?

Indications for benzodiazepines include acute stress reactions, episodic anxiety, fluctuations in generalised anxiety, and as initial treatment for severe panic and agoraphobia.

What are the negative effects of diazepam?

SIDE EFFECTS: Drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, constipation, blurred vision, or headache may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

What do you monitor with diazepam?

Minor changes in EEG patterns, usually low-voltage fast activity, have been observed in patients during and after diazepam therapy and are of no known significance. Because of isolated reports of neutropenia and jaundice, periodic blood counts and liver function tests are advisable during long-term therapy.

What are the long-term effects of diazepam?

Common long-term side effects of Valium abuse include:

difficulty breathing. slowed heart rate. loss of consciousness or coma. cardiac events, including heart attack or irregular heart palpitations.

Which substances may increase the toxic effects of benzodiazepines?

Iatrogenic causes of toxicity can be seen when benzodiazepines are combined with other drugs during procedural sedation, particularly with opiates such as fentanyl.

Can benzodiazepines cause dementia?

Even for younger people, benzodiazepines cause acute cognitive impairment, among other risks. Increased risk of dementia is another major concern with long-term use of benzodiazepines. In a meta-analysis, heavy cumulative doses of benzodiazepines were associated with a risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Why should benzodiazepines be taken short term?

Short-term use of benzodiazepines is justified in patients with severe symptomatic distress and/or impairment of ability to cope. Long-term use is only justified in patients with chronic severe anxiety in which the symptomatic relief and improved functioning outweigh the risk of dependence.