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April 5, 2025
Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam and chlordiazepoxide are notorious for having the potential to be highly addictive. They may also come with difficult and sometimes fatal withdrawal symptoms. The drugs, which are often called benzos or downers, are commonly used to treat anxiety, panic attacks and sleep disorders. But they can also be used to help people manage alcohol withdrawal.
Other common benzodiazepines include diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin) and alprazolam (Xanax). Unlike antidepressants, which can take weeks to start working, most benzodiazepines can provide relief within minutes for people who need quick anxiety relief for a specific situation. But if taken for longer periods, patients can develop a tolerance within weeks of starting the drug, even when using it as prescribed. Which means the same dose will no longer get rid of the symptoms. Research suggests that the drugs are prescribed most frequently to adults between the ages of 50 and 64. In 2020, the F.D.A. updated the information given to prescribers and patients for all benzodiazepines to warn about the risks of physical dependence, withdrawal reactions, misuse, abuse and addiction. if you’re going to drink alcohol or use cannabis, it’s best not to have any benzodiazepine in your system. When people combine substances that have a depressant effect, it can even interfere with their breathing. The geriatric population is especially vulnerable because benzodiazepines are metabolized differently as we age, lingering in the body for a longer period of time. As a result, older people who take them may be more prone to falls or car accidents. If someone develops a dependence, quitting can be difficult, in part because of the intense withdrawal symptoms. Those symptoms can include sleep disturbances, irritability, sweating, heart palpitations, elevated blood pressure and stomach problems like dry heaving. In the end, it’s always more effective to try to identify and address the root cause of the anxiety. Here's the link: What Is Lorazepam? The Drug From ‘The White Lotus’ Carries Real Risks - The New York Times