Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Polydrug use involving benzodiazepines and alcohol can result in an increased risk of blackouts, risk-taking behaviours, seizures, and overdose. [230] Dependence and tolerance, often coupled with dosage escalation, to benzodiazepines can develop rapidly among people who misuse drugs; withdrawal syndrome may appear after as little as three weeks ...
A person who experiences the toxic effects of alcohol or benzodiazepines will not benefit from other therapies or medications as they do not address the root cause of the symptoms. [47] Recovery from benzodiazepine dependence tends to take a lot longer than recovery from alcohol, [47] [48] but people can regain their previous good health.
Ethanol (alcohol) has a very similar mechanism of tolerance and withdrawal to benzodiazepines, involving the GABA A receptors, NMDA receptors and AMPA receptors, but the majority of research into kindling has primarily focused on alcohol. [6] An intensification of anxiety and other psychological symptoms of alcohol withdrawal also occurs. [10]
Long-acting benzodiazepines with long-acting active metabolites, such as diazepam and chlordiazepoxide, are often prescribed for benzodiazepine or alcohol withdrawal as well as for anxiety if constant dose levels are required throughout the day. Shorter-acting benzodiazepines are often preferred for insomnia due to their lesser hangover effect.
However, benzodiazepines with intermediate half-lives like lorazepam may be safer in people with liver problems. [34] Benzodiazepines showed a protective benefit against alcohol withdrawal symptoms, in particular seizure, compared to other common methods of treatment. [35]
Long-term alcohol abuse can create a deficiency of thiamine, magnesium, zinc, folate, and phosphate as well as cause low blood sugar. [10] However, several drugs have been shown to stop the hallucinations. Neuroleptics and benzodiazepines showed normalization. Common benzodiazepines include chlordiazepoxide and lorazepam.
Alcohol can intensify the sedation caused by hypnotics/sedatives such as barbiturates, benzodiazepines, sedative antihistamines, opioids, nonbenzodiazepines/Z-drugs (such as zolpidem and zopiclone). [15] In the Netherlands, pentobarbital is part of the standard protocol for physician-assisted suicide for self-administration by the patient. [16]
Benzodiazepines are one of the most highly prescribed classes of drugs, [7] and they are commonly used in self-poisoning. [8] [9] Over 10 years in the United Kingdom, 1512 fatal poisonings have been attributed to benzodiazepines with or without alcohol. [10] Temazepam was shown to be more toxic than the majority of benzodiazepines.