are benzodiazepines anxiolytic
ADVERSE EFFECTS OF PROLONGED BENZODIAZEPINE USE by Dr Heather Ashton MA, DM, FRCP, Honorary Consultant in Clinical Pharmacology, Newcastle Health Authority; Senior Lecturer in Psychopharmacology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Benzodiazepines are safe and effective drugs for short-term administration. Benzodiazepines potentiate the actions of other central depressant drugs. The effects are mainly additive, although some authors suggest that synergistic effects may occur, especially with alcohol10-13a further contributor to traffic accidents. Anxiety Medications (cont.) Jim Morelli, MS, RPh. Jim Morelli holds a B.S. from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health in Boston and an M.S. in civil engineering from Tufts University. He is registered as a pharmacist in the state of Georgia. In dependent patients, these are used in a manner similar to phenobarbital to wean patients from short-acting benzodiazepines. The general principle is that sedatives with longer half-lives have less severe withdrawal symptoms. Various patient-specific dosing strategies are used. A variety of drugs are used both in the acute and the long-term setting for the treatment of sedative, hypnotic, and anxiolytic use disorders. Drug selection depends upon whether toxicity or withdrawal symptoms are being targeted. Next. Anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics are drugs that work on the central nervous system to treat anxiety and insomnia. The main classes of drugs are benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Please refer to the drug classes listed below for further information. barbiturates. Withdrawal symptoms also commonly occur when dosage is reduced or medication stopped. Since benzodiazepines are the most commonly prescribed drugs in the western world,2 and as there are probably over 3 million chronic users in this country,3 these long-term effects are a matter of concern. Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99. Anxiolytics, sedatives, and hypnotics. Anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics are drugs that work on the central nervous system to treat anxiety and insomnia. The main classes of drugs are benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Please refer to the drug classes listed below for further information. 1  barbiturates.  benzodiazepines. When the drugs are used as hypnotics these effects may not be noticed, but many benzodiazepines give rise to subjective 'hangover' on the following day, and after most of them, even those with short elimination half-lives, psychomotor performance may still be impaired the next day.
Yes, benzodiazepines are anxiolytic.