Benzodiazepines are a group of drugs called nervous system depressants. People may take them to treat anxiety or sleeping issues. Common ...ThebenefitsandrisksofbenzodiazepinesMedicallyreviewedbyAlanCarter,Pharm.D.—WrittenbyJosephNordqvist—UpdatedonNovember8,2020UsesFunctionTypesSideeffectsInteractionsMisuseTakeawayBenzodiazepinesareaclassofdrugsthatcantreatarangeofconditions.Doctorsoftenprescribethemtotreatanxiety,seizures,andinsomnia.Theshort-termuseofthesemedicationsisusuallysafeandeffective,butlong-termusecanleadtotolerance,dependence,andotheradverseeffects.Therearedifferenttypesofbenzodiazepines,andtheyhavedifferentuses.Theyinclude:alprazolam(Xanax)clonazepam(Klonopin)diazepam(Valium)lorazepam(Ativan)midazolam(Versed)Takingtoomuchofabenzodiazepinecanbedangerous,andmixingitwithalcoholorothersubstancescanbefatal.Thisarticlelooksathowbenzodiazepineswork,theiruses,andtherelatedsideeffectsandrisks.UsesBenzodiazepinesaltertheactivityoftheneuronsthattriggerstressandanxietyreactions.TheFoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)haveapprovedthemforthetreatmentof:insomniageneralizedanxietydisordersocialanxietydisorderseizuredisorders,suchasepilepsypanicdisorderThetypeofbenzodiazepinewilldeterminethepotentialuses.Doctorsmayalsoprescribethesedrugsoff-labelforvariousotherconditionsandissues,including:othersleepdisordersticdisordersbipolardisordertomanagealcoholwithdrawalTheymayalsousetheminpreparationforsomemedicalprocedures.FunctionBenzodiazepinesworkbyenhancingtheeffectofaneurotransmitterknownasgamma-aminobutyricacid,orGABA.Neurotransmittersarechemicalsthatcommunicatemessagesbetweenbraincells.Thesemessagescanhaveeitherastimulatingoracalmingeffect.GABAisaneurotransmitterthatsendscalmingmessagestothebody.Whenapersonfeelsanxious,overstimulationoccursinthebrain.Whenpeopletakebenzodiazepines,thebrainwillsendmessagestocounterthisoverstimulation.Thisactivitycanreducethesymptomsofanxiety.TypesTherearemanydifferentbenzodiazepines.Theydifferintermsofpotency,howquicklythebodyabsorbsthem,andtheir