Benzodiazepine group
I would like to scream, benzodiazepines are a pharmacy drug or a narcotic
Recently, the tendency to swallow pharmacy pills containing substances with narcotic effect has become more frequent everywhere.
Benzodiazepines are psychoactive substances that have an inhibitory effect on the central nervous system, or rather, have a hypnotic, anti–anxiety, sedative, relaxing, anticonvulsant effect. All benzodiazepines are representatives of the group of CNS depressants.
In medicine, benzodiazepines have found their application in the treatment and symptomatic action against
- epilepsy;
- insomnia;
- anxiety disorders;
- muscle spasms;
- withdrawal syndrome from alcohol, drugs.
Drugs are widely used in the practice of treating drug addiction from opiates (in the early days to relieve withdrawal), amphetamines, as well as panic attacks provoked by the use of hallucinogens. Oddly enough, the properties of benzodiazepines are more often used by drug addicts not for healing, but for getting high, since the drugs have a narcotic effect.
A group of benzodiazepines was created back in 1955, and by 1959 they began to be sold in pharmacies (the first drug was called Valium). Doctors initially met this group of drugs with enthusiasm, it largely replaced barbiturates. But by the 80s, a serious side effect was revealed – the drugs were addictive. According to research, benzodiazepines, when used for a long time, damage the brain in a similar way as alcohol does when abused. It is due to the fact that the drugs are similar in effect to a drug, they are sold only by a doctor”s prescription and are prescribed in a limited way.
Representatives of the group of benzodiazepines that addicts prefer to use are as follows
- Nordiazepam;
- Phenazepam;
- Diazepam;
- Lorazepam;
- Nosepam;
- Quasepam;
- Xanax;
- Librium;
- Serax and many others.
Among the “pharmacy drugs” that affect the functioning of the central nervous system, it is benzodiazepines, including tranquilizers, that are prescribed to people most often, and then used far from their intended purpose. Prescriptions for medicines are usually repeatedly forged, while addicts use an unfair attitude to their verification in many pharmacies.
Properties and mechanism of action
Properties and mechanism of action of benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines affect special receptors of the brain (GABA receptors), while increasing the similarity of GABA (gamma-butyric acid) with nerve cells. The result is a decrease in the excitability of neurons, which leads to an inhibitory effect. Activation of different types of GABA receptors by benzodiazepines causes the development of not only therapeutic action, but also various other effects. Some type of GABA receptors are even called benzodiazepine, because it is after binding with them that the same narcotic “arrival” that drug addicts expect develops. The fact is that the strengthening of the work of all the described receptors provokes the release of dopamine into the intercellular space – the “pleasure hormone”.
The duration of the sensations that drug addicts are chasing can be 2-8 hours, depending on the duration of the drug and its dose.
The effect that drugs give is as follows
- reducing feelings of anxiety;
- calmness;
- peace of mind;
- reduction of pain syndrome and sensitivity to pain;
- reducing mindfulness;
- relaxation, complete relaxation;
- feeling of complete satisfaction;
- serenity.
The properties of drugs – sedative, anti–anxiety, muscle relaxant, hypnotic and others – largely depend on the dose used. Usually drug addicts prefer to exceed therapeutic dosages by 2 or more times, which, in addition to obtaining the desired result, threatens with an overdose.
Usually, taking the drug in large quantities eventually ends with a deep sleep, but after waking up a person is waiting for a number of unpleasant consequences.
It is also worth answering the question of how much benzodiazepines stay in the urine and blood. So, the exact time depends on the properties of a particular drug and the characteristics of the body. The half-life of the blood is 1-100 hours. In the urine, they last from 24 hours to 7 days or more.
Symptoms of use
Drugs in the form of tablets are taken orally, or, if desired, to enhance the effect, are crushed into powder and injected. Symptoms occur due to the onset of the action of benzodiazepines on the central nervous system. In general, drug intoxication resembles that when taking a large dose of alcohol. There is no alcoholic smell from a person at the same time, and this is an important distinguishing feature that will help the relatives of the addict to identify the fact of use.
The main symptoms of benzodiazepine abuse are as follows
- Slurred speech.
- Disorientation in time, in space.
- Dizziness.
- Drowsiness of varying degrees.
- Impaired concentration of attention.
- Decreased appetite.
- Nausea.
- Various vision problems.
- A state of euphoria.
- Convulsions (rarely).
- Delusional ideas, statements.
- Nightmares in a dream.
With frequent consumption of benzodiazepines, people periodically experience a state of depression, their libido decreases, and men have a falling erection. After the cessation of the drugs, headaches, nausea, and mood depression often occur. With intravenous administration of the drug, a drop in blood pressure, respiratory disorders may occur.
Side effects
Side effects of benzodiazepines The majority of side effects from this group of drugs are due to their sedative as well as relaxing effect. Since the concentration of attention of an addict is seriously reduced, this is fraught with serious consequences – injuries, bruises. The situation is aggravated by drowsiness, dizziness. If a person in such a condition gets behind the wheel, the risk of an accident is high, often fatal.
A long intake of benzodiazepines greatly reduces the quality of sexual life, worsens vision, possibly a decrease in cardiac output, slowing the movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract. Cases of toxic liver damage (medicinal hepatitis), the development of chronic insomnia, tremor, skin rash, weight gain, chronic hypotension have been recorded. Possible anterograde amnesia, muscle weakness, hormonal changes. The longer the period of drug use, the higher the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts, the development of panic states and other mental disorders.
Occasionally there are abnormal side effects that are not characteristic of drugs of this group. However, when taking a large dose, which is practiced by drug addicts, they are quite possible
- Unmotivated aggression;
- Convulsions;
- Impulsive behavior.
Most often, a bad outcome occurs in drug addicts who already suffer from various mental disorders and personality disorders. In most cases, this is observed with poly-drug addiction.
Dependence
Even taking a therapeutic dosage, but organized for a long time, can provoke the development of dependence on benzodiazepines. It has been proven that these drugs provoke both mental and physical dependence, but to a relatively low degree (in barbiturates, opiates, it is much higher). Dependence is easily provable, since after the drug is discontinued, a number of symptoms arise from the body and internal organs, as well as from the psyche.
When taking benzodiazepines in a standard dosage, dependence develops, on average, after 4-6 months, even when it comes to weak-acting drugs. But few people become really addicted if they initially did not have the purpose of using drugs to obtain narcotic action.
But drug addicts who use large dosages, and especially those who have previously had experience using other psychoactive substances, are tightly hooked on bendodiazepines for 2-3 months. According to statistics, up to 50% of drug addicts undergoing therapy have a parallel dependence on this group of drugs.
Poisoning and overdose
Poisoning and overdose of the drug of the benzodiazepine group, benzodiazepines can lead to overdose, but, used as a monopreparation, rarely cause death (no more than 3% of cases of acute poisoning). But the simultaneous intake of alcohol or opiates seriously increases this probability, and this combination is very dangerous for life. There is also a high addiction to benzidiazepines in people who use cocaine, and such a combination is also considered risky.
Symptoms of benzidiazepine overdose may be as follows
- Pupil dilation
- Weakness of the pulse or, conversely, a more frequent pulse
- Bradycardia
- Profuse sweat
- Nystagmus
- Skin stickiness
- Shallow, weak breathing
- Confusion of consciousness
- Sometimes – a state of coma
- Asystole
It is also dangerous to completely abruptly stop taking the drug, so even for drug addicts it is gradually reduced so as not to cause severe consequences for the cardiovascular system.
Treatment
In acute poisoning, flumazenil is used as an antidote, which inhibits the work of drugs of this group and reduces the risk of severe complications. But drug addicts with a lot of experience taking such a drug is contraindicated because of the danger of even more unpleasant side effects.
Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome may include the following signs
- Sleep and appetite disorders;
- Hyperhidrosis;
- Vertigo;
- Gastrointestinal pain;
- Panic, fears;
- Anxiety;
- Headaches;
- Arrhythmias;
- Convulsions.
Withdrawal syndrome lasts 1-2 days, but sometimes – up to 5-7 days or more (with a long history of use). As for how to treat addiction and withdrawal symptoms, the basis of therapy is the gradual withdrawal of medication, as well as mandatory psychotherapy. Outpatient treatment is possible only with drug addiction.
About Author
