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Moira Sim does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under Creative Commons licence. Valium is a brand name for diazepam, which belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines.

Also included in this class are temazepam, oxazepam, nitrazepam, clonazepam, alprazolam, midazolam and flunitrazepam. Benzodiazepines remain among the most widely prescribed psychotropic medications — that is, drugs that affect brain function. For valium 7 million prescriptions are issued for benzodiazepines in Australia each year, with diazepam the most common. Benzodiazepines bind to specific receptors to strengthen the effect of an amino acid called Gamma-aminobutyric acid GABA in nerve cells.

This reduces the turnover of other neurotransmitters, therefore depressing the central nervous system. The dampening of anxiety nervous system reduces anxiety and causes muscles to relax. This leads to sedation, reduced cognition and motor function, and sleep. Benzodiazepines, like alcohol, are depressant drugs. Benzodiazepines have been used for insomnia, anxiety, reducing muscle tension and other situations where there is a need to calm the central nervous system.

There is little controversy about using benzodiazepines in acute psychiatric emergencies, anaesthesia, intensive care, palliative care at the end of life, and in the treatment of seizures and alcohol withdrawal. But its use in long-term situations has been increasingly questioned. Benzodiazepines can cause confusion, cognitive impairment and falls, resulting in considerable disruption and socioeconomic costs.

This is particularly problematic given that use is more common among older age groups. Benzodiazepines are also sold as street drugs, can impair driving and are associated with overdose. Continued use even at low dose for a few weeks can lead to physiological dependence tolerance and withdrawal. Tolerance means that, over time, the effect of the drug wears off and anxiety higher dose is needed for the same effect.

When the drug is stoppedusers can experience severe withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, tension, panic attacks, tremor, sweating, poor concentration, nausea, palpitations, headache, muscle aches and sometimes even seizures and psychotic reactions. Long-term use is generally not recommended anxiety of the known side effects. "Anxiety" withdrawal can be difficult since the initial symptoms for which tramadol 50 mg can it get you high drug was prescribed might return, made worse by the symptoms from the withdrawal itself.

Some people are therefore reluctant to stop the drug. For these reasons, withdrawal should be gradual and guided by clinicians, who can help patients cope with any symptoms. Up to the mids, barbiturates were widely used to treat insomnia and anxiety. But is klonopin safe while breastfeeding incidence of dependence, severe withdrawal reactions, overdose and death had become a diazepam after general anesthetic concern.

In the quest for a safer alternativeAmerican chemist Leo Sternbach created the first compound in the benzodiazepines class of drugs, methaminodiazepoxide. This led to the release of diazepam Valium inconsidered to anxiety safer than barbiturates. Over the next decade, it became the anxiety prescribed drug in the United States. Negative effects were slow to be recognised and widely acknowledged. This took nearly two decades after the description of clinton diazepam penny values withdrawal syndrome.

Only then did prescription rates begin anxiety fall. The good news is there is now greater caution and questioning about the potential unintended effects of new drugs. Despite the clear evidence and widespread acceptance that benzodiazepines cause harm, they have a legitimate place in anxietysuch as in acute emergencies. Yet despite international and national guidelines recommending that the use of benzodiazepines tramadol cause drowsiness in dogs take valium anxiety can you for limited to two to four weeksthese drugs continue to be prescribed beyond these time frames.

The reasons for this are complex. As the largest medical workforce, GPs have the greatest contact with patients anxiety therefore prescribe the most medications. They are often seen as responsible for the benzodiazepine problem. But GPs may not always be the initiator. They often take over the care of patients who have been started on benzodiazepines by psychiatrists or during hospital anxiety. Psychiatrists commonly prescribe these medications as an add-on to antidepressant treatment to take valium for anxiety and to increase the likelihood that patients will adhere to treatments and respond early.

Today there is a broad spectrum of people and contexts where benzodiazepines are used, from the clearly legitimate short-term situations in known patients to deliberate drug misuse and sale in people with chaotic and sometimes aggressive behaviour. Further, with an increasingly internationally networked world, benzodiazepines can now be purchased on the internet without a prescription.

The promotion of the dangers of inadequate sleep also results in people seeking medications to reach the goal of seven "anxiety" nine hours of sleep. In some cases, there are underlying causes that can be treated or healthy sleep habits can improve sleep. In other cases, a person may feel well and simply need less sleep.

New guidelines now recognise individual variations with a broader range of possible can you sleep durations of six to ten hours in adults aged years, and five to nine hours in those aged 65 years and over. Clinicians need 2mg klonopin and benadryl discuss the potential side effects of sedative drugs with patients, emphasising the risk of dependence and cognitive decline.

They also need to promote non-drug approaches for managing stress, insomnia and anxiety, take can you as cognitive behavioural therapy, and reinforce that sedative drugs do not work in the long term. A Multidisciplinary Discussion' — Manchester, Manchester. Available editions United Kingdom. Long-term use is not recommended because of the known side effects.

But it took two decades, after its release in the s, to recognise this. Moira SimEdith Cowan University. How does it "can you" How is it used? Side effects Benzodiazepines can cause confusion, cognitive impairment and falls, resulting in considerable disruption and socioeconomic costs. History Up to the mids, does medicare pay for ambien were widely used to treat insomnia and anxiety.

Current use Despite the clear evidence and widespread acceptance that benzodiazepines cause harm, they have a legitimate place in therapeuticssuch as in acute what is the generic for phentermine 37.5. Benzodiazepines Valium Weekly Dose. The Conversation is a non-profit. Help knowledge-based, ethical journalism today. You might also like This class of drug poses significant risks of misuse and dependence, paradoxical reactions, disinhibition, amnesia and intoxication.

There are effective non-drug options for treating insomnia. Most popular on The Conversation Ancient Greek music: Expert Database Find experts with knowledge in: Community Community standards Republishing guidelines Friends of The Conversation Research and Expert Database Analytics Events Our feeds Donate Company Who we are Our charter Our team Our blog Take valium for and funders Contributing institutions Resource for media Contact us Stay informed and subscribe to our free daily newsletter and get the latest analysis and commentary directly in your inbox.

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