Benzodiazepine
At larger doses, there may be issues with sedation. Overdose brings with it its own set of complications. Benzos may have lasting effects on cognition if used in high doses over a long period of time. There is also a greater risk for Alzheimer's disease with use.
Benzodiazepine Abuse and Dependency
If you use a drug without a prescription where one is needed, then that is drug abuse. If you have a prescription but take too large of a dose, this is also considered abuse. Some people use multiple doctors to get more of the drug than is suggested.
Users can rapidly become dependent if they use large amounts or use the drug for a longer period of time than is recommended. Abuse makes dependence a real possibility. Dependence happens when the brain alters its structure to adjust for the drug. This changes the reward pathway. They will start to feel benzodiazepine withdrawal when the drug exits the bloodstream. Benzodiazepine withdrawal varies in severity depending on the severity of dependency, the type of drug abused, the method of abuse, the dosage, and the duration of abuse.
How Do Benzodiazepines Affect the Brain?
Benzodiazepine drugs depress the central nervous system. The central nervous system has control over the regulation of heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and body temperature. Benzos slow down these functions. They accomplish this by interrupting the communication between the brain and the body.
The brain controls body systems via chemicals called neurotransmitters. Stress and anxiety stimulate the brain. These drugs interfere with the creation or interpretation of these brain chemicals. This slows down activity there and creates sedative effects.
Since these drugs function quickly, they are many times used to aid in managing overstimulation. They are not good when used over the long term, though. Tolerance develops in the presence of the drugs. You have to use more and more of the benzos to achieve the same effect.
Benzodiazepines function best when used in combination with other medications. For instance, General Anxiety Disorder can be treated with antidepressants after a short course of treatment with benzodiazepines.
Benzodiazepines are good when used as prescribed. They can aid in creating a situation where longer-term solutions can develop. Long-acting forms of the drug can be used for social anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, and seizure disorders. The drugs have amnesiac effects. This means that they may affect memory in a negative way.
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
If you use these drugs in a way that is not prescribed, you may become dependent on them. At the point that use is decreased or ended, the body goes through benzo withdrawal. The symptoms of withdrawal can range from slight discomfort to life-threatening.
The severity of Benzodiazepine withdrawal will be tied to the average dose of the drug previously taken and how suddenly they are stopped. People who abruptly halt their usage after a sustained period of use are at a greater risk of serious withdrawal than those who slowly taper their use.
The withdrawal can be dangerous. This is particularly the case for users with severe dependence or with pre-existing health issues. Severe symptoms of Benzodiazepine withdrawal can include psychosis and seizures. If not properly managed, these symptoms may get even more serious.
