<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Benzodiazepines are a class of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-psychoactive-22500&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;psychoactive drugs&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; that act as &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-the-central-nervous-system-2794981&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;central nervous system&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; depressants. Because death from from benzodiazepine overdose is rare, these are the CNS depressants most prescribed and have largely replaced &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-are-barbiturates-2794873&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;barbiturates&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; for use as hypnotics, anesthetics and sedatives.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;History of Benzodiazepines&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The first &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;S_PXhwB6n18GWGyXWwpEaQ&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/the-benzodiazepines-378909&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;benzodiazepine&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; was chlordiazepoxide (Librium), which was created for medical uses during the 1960s. Shortly after, the drug Valium was developed and it quickly became the highest-selling prescription drug from 1972 until 1978.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Because of their tendency to create dependence, benzodiazepines are classified as a Schedule IV drug. Drugs placed in this category have a lower potential for abuse and are accepted as a medical treatment, but they can still lead to limited physical or psychological dependence.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Effects of Benzodiazepines&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Benzodiazepines have been used for a wide variety of purposes, including in the treatment of back pain, anxiety and insomnia. The drugs work by selectively affecting neurons that have receptors for the &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-a-neurotransmitter-2795394&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;neurotransmitter&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). When benzodiazepines are introduced, the inhibiting effects of GABA are magnified. As a result, people taking these drugs experience altered mood, relaxed muscles and drowsiness.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In some instances, benzodiazepines can have what are known as paradoxical effects. Unusual symptoms such as nervousness, anxiety, sweating, tension, restlessness and nightmares can occur.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Examples of Benzodiazepines&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Alprazolam (Xanax)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Clonazepam (Klonopin)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Deazepam (Valium)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Lorazepam (Ativan)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Triazolam (Halcion)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/what-are-benzodiazepines-2794874>