Read This If You Take Anti-Anxiety Medication Regularly

An increasing number of Americans are taking benzodiazepines (also known as “benzodiazepines”), which include common drugs such as alprazolam, Valium, Xanax, and clonazepam.According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the number of Americans taking benzodiazepines increased by 67 percent from 1996 to 2013, from 8.1 million to 13.5 million.

David Hu, medical director of Palm Beach Behavioral Health in Palm Beach, Florida, says that although benzodiazepines are effective in the short term for anxiety disorders, they are the most commonly abused or misused anti-anxiety medications.In fact, studies have shown that up to 44 percent of long-term benzodiazepine users may become dependent on the drugs.

How benzodiazepines affect your brain – and where it might do so

Taking benzodiazepines is similar to drinking alcohol, says Stephen Taylor, chief medical officer of Pathway Healthcare in Birmingham, Alabama, and medical director of the National Basketball Association’s Player Assistance/Drug Program.They work in a similar way to alcohol, providing quick and effective (but only temporary) relief from anxiety.

Neeraj Gandotra, chief medical officer of Delphi Behavioral Health Group in Florida, says benzodiazepines have a sedative effect by affecting the brain’s GABA receptors, a neurotransmitter that inhibits neural activity or “slows things down.

The main effects of these drugs can be good, especially if you have frequent anxiety or panic attacks.However, Prof. Hu says they can also have major negative effects.

These medications have a limited duration of effectiveness and people tend to feel more anxious when the effects wear off.This can lead to people constantly taking medication to avoid feeling anxious.

This can lead people to start relying on drugs to get through each day.

While patients may have initially taken the medication to prevent panic symptoms, they now take the medication even when they experience the mildest of symptoms.They started taking medication preventatively – when they woke up, before meetings, when they went to the grocery store.

Signs that you or someone else is dangerously using anti-anxiety medication

Experts say that taking benzodiazepines can lead to dependence or addiction.While addiction and dependence are not the same thing, withdrawal reactions are very difficult to cope with and the risks are high.

A sign of dependence on prescription drugs is an increase in the amount taken.This may occur in people who have been taking benzodiazepines for a long time, requiring larger and larger doses to achieve the same effect.Signs of dependence also include slurred speech, clumsy or slow movements, mood changes and realistic dreams.

If you’re concerned that a friend or family member may be dependent on benzodiazepines, be aware if they’re isolating themselves from people who may question them about their medication.They may also become irritable or nervous, Gandotra says.Other signs of dependence to watch for include a sedated or lethargic appearance, slowed mobility, impaired memory and personality changes over time.

Addiction is more than just a dependency; it is considered a very valid and real medical condition that warrants individual treatment.

Addiction is a brain disease.Addicts may exhibit a loss of control over drugs, continue to take drugs despite negative consequences, and take drugs impulsively without self-control.

While anyone can develop a tolerance, certain risk factors can make it easier for some people to abuse any kind of drug.The number one risk factor for addiction is a family history of addiction.Examples include parents with a history of alcoholism.In addition, people with chronic illnesses, those who have been using drugs since childhood, and those with other mental illnesses are at a higher risk of developing addictive disorders.

That said, it’s important to note that even if a person doesn’t have these risk factors, it’s still possible to develop dependence or addiction.

What is benzodiazepine withdrawal?

Whether you are dependent or addicted to the drug, completely stopping the use of benzodiazepines can lead to withdrawal symptoms.The first signs of withdrawal are tremors or heart palpitations.Other symptoms include decreased concentration and difficulty sleeping, rebound anxiety, muscle stiffness and pain, and visual hallucinations.

If someone takes more than three to four milligrams a day, it can also lead to seizures, rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and even death in some cases.

If someone is dependent on the medication, they will also need to gradually reduce the dosage to be able to stop taking it, usually on the advice of a doctor.

Withdrawal from benzodiazepines can be risky and should always be done under the medical supervision of the prescribing physician or another physician.Addiction treatment centers and rehab facilities are usually staffed with doctors who specialize in benzodiazepine detox and other addictive drugs.

This is especially true if other medications are involved, especially opioids.Both opioids and benzodiazepines inhibit parts of the brain that control key bodily functions such as breathing and heart rate. Studies have found that more than 30 percent of opioid overdoses are also linked to benzodiazepines.

The Bottom Line

While it’s true that there are some benefits to using benzodiazepines, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking mental health medications in general, experts are generally advising doctors that they need to be more careful and considerate when prescribing benzodiazepines because the risks of long-term use are very high.

Medical professionals should only use these medications for short-term treatment and only on a temporary basis, and only for patients with no personal or family history of addiction disorders.

Especially in the context of the opioid epidemic, there has never been a better time to recognize the dangers of benzodiazepines and to treat them with new respect and caution.