Is Valium a long-acting benzodiazepine?
Its effects are longer-lasting than other similar benzodiazepines like Xanax, which is a short-acting benzodiazepine. Since Valium stays in the body longer than other benzodiazepines, users typically require fewer doses daily. However, it may also be misused due to its calming effects.
What are benzodiazepines?
Abstract Benzodiazepines (BZ or BZD) are a class of gabaminergic psychoactive chemicals used in hypnotics, sedation, in the treatment of anxiety, and in other CNS disorders. These drugs include alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin), and others.
Are benzodiazepines like Xanax or Valium better for GABA?
Benzodiazepines, like Xanax and Valium, keep that channel open for longer, making GABA more effective. Xanax and Valium are also used to treat panic disorders, seizures, muscle spasms, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
What are the most popular benzodiazepines for anxiety?
Valium and Xanax are two of the dozens of benzodiazepines available, and they are among the most popular in the United States. If you have an anxiety disorder, it’s important to get the right treatment for your needs.
What are Valium and Xanax classified as?
Certain medications used to treat anxiety disorders fall under the classification of “controlled substances.” Benzodiazepines, such as Ativan, Xanax and Valium, are a class of medications commonly used for their tranquilizing and anti-anxiety effects and are often prescribed for panic disorder.
What are benzodiazepines mainly used for?
Benzodiazepines are a type of sedative medication. This means they slow down the body and brain's functions. They can be used to help with anxiety and insomnia (difficult getting to sleep or staying asleep).
What is Valium used for?
Diazepam is used to treat anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, and seizures. It is also used to relieve muscle spasms and to provide sedation before medical procedures. This medication works by calming the brain and nerves.
What disorder does benzodiazepine treat?
Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that can treat a range of conditions. Doctors often prescribe them to treat anxiety, seizures, and insomnia. The short-term use of these medications is usually safe and effective, but long-term use can lead to tolerance, dependence, and other adverse effects.
What type of drug is Xanax?
Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorder (sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks). Alprazolam is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain.
What are barbiturates used for?
Barbiturates were first used in medicine in the early 1900s and became popular in the 1960s and 1970s as treatment for anxiety, insomnia, or seizure disorders. They evolved into recreational drugs that some people used to reduce inhibitions, decrease anxiety, and to treat unwanted side effects of illicit drugs.
How do benzodiazepines treat anxiety?
What does Anti-anxiety Medications (Benzodiazepines) do? Benzodiazepines enhance the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA—a chemical in the brain that helps you to feel calm. Their effect also produces drowsiness, making it easier to fall asleep and sleep through the night.
What are benzos classified as?
Benzodiazepines are depressants that produce sedation and hypnosis, relieve anxiety and muscle spasms, and reduce seizures.
How do benzodiazepines work?
Benzodiazepines enhance the action of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which slows down the central nervous system. This produces the calming, sedative effect that helps with anxiety.
How does Valium work?
Valium works by calming the central nervous system and producing feelings of relaxation in the mind. Its effects are longer-lasting than other similar benzodiazepines like Xanax, which is a short-acting benzodiazepine.
What is Xanax used for?
What Is Xanax? Xanax is the brand name for the drug alprazolam. It is a prescription drug and benzodiazepine that is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It works by increasing the amount of gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, which produces feelings of calmness and relaxation.
What happens if you stop taking Xanax?
If a person is addicted to Xanax and suddenly stops using it, he or she may experience withdrawal symptoms. Xanax withdrawal can be mild or severe, but the safest method for quitting is a taper method, which involves gradually reducing the dosage over time until it is no longer needed.
How many people filled benzodiazepine prescriptions in 2013?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, between 1996 and 2013, the number of adults who filled a benzodiazepine prescription increased by 67 percent, from 8.1 million to 13.5 million.
What are some street names for Xanax?
Common street names for Xanax include: Bars. Benzos. Blue footballs. Bricks. Handlebars. Planks. School bus.
Can Valium be used with alcohol?
Valium is also frequently abused with other prescription drugs or alcohol, which can be extremely dangerous and increase the user’s risk of overdose. Drug combinations like benzodiazepines and alcohol or benzodiazepines and opiates can be life-threatening and these drugs should never be used together. 7.
Is Valium a benzodiazepine?
It may also be used to treat symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Valium is a benzodiazepine and can be highly addictive, especially if it is taken for several weeks at a time or used recreationally. Valium is formulated in varying doses and comes in tablet form, which may be white, yellow, blue, or green in color.
What are the side effects of Valium and Xanax?
The two drugs are also similar in their potential side effects, which can include: Fatigue. Drowsiness. Speech issues. They also compare in their interaction with certain medications and alcohol. Many medications that induce feelings of calm and sleepiness will be amplified if taken with Valium and Xanax together.
What is the best medication for anxiety?
Anxiety can be debilitating, but there are medications available to treat it. Among the more common anti-anxiety medications available are Valium and Xanax, both of which are popular and can be effective in treating symptoms of anxiety.
Can Valium cause addiction?
If taken in high doses over a prolonged amount of time, the risk of Valium or Xanax addiction increases. Both drugs can lead to addiction if misused.
Does Valium cause rash?
For instance, Xanax side effects can also include constipation, weight fluctuations and memory problems, while Valium side effects can also include diarrhea, muscle spasms, rash, loss of balance, lack of sleep, confusion, irritability, and double vision.
Is Valium the same as Xanax?
Valium is a brand name for diazepam, while Xanax is a brand name for alprazolam, both of which act as minor tranquilizers. They both help to increase the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that sends signals in the body. When there is not enough GABA, feelings of anxiety may arise.
Does Xanax last longer in older people?
Further, the risk of addiction typically increases with age, which means that the effects of Valium and Xanax tend to last longer in older individuals. In addition, the drugs usually take longer to leave the system in an older person compared to a younger one.
Xanax Withdrawal
Xanax is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines . These frequently prescribed medications are used to treat a range of physical and mental health conditions. Specifically, Xanax (also known by its generic name, alprazolam) is used in the ...
Xanax History and Statistics
Xanax is the well-known brand name for alprazolam . This medication belongs to a class of sedative and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) drugs called benzodiazepines . History of Xanax Xanaxis most commonly prescribed to treat: Anxiety. Panic disorders. Dr. ...
Why Is Xanax So Addictive?
Xanax, also known by its generic name alprazolam, belongs to a class of prescription drugs called benzodiazepines. For some people, Xanax can be an effective treatment for anxiety and panic disorders. However, Xanax users are at high risk for ...
The Side Effects of Xanax Use
What Is Xanax? Xanax (generic name: alprazolam) is a powerful benzodiazepine drug that is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain. 1,2 The medication comes in the form of a tablet that quickly ...
Getting Help for Xanax Addiction
What is Xanax? Xanax is a benzodiazepine that comes in either tablet or capsule form. It's used to manage anxiety and panic disorders. Sometimes called “purple footballs,” “bars” or “Z-bars,” this drug can cause a high that includes ...
Xanax Addiction
Xanax is a commonly prescribed medication used to treat specific anxiety disorders such as panic disorder. Alprazolam in the generic name for Xanax, and this specific prescription medication belongs to the class of drugs called benzodiazepines, or ...
Anxious About Anxiety: Why We Reach for Xanax
We're an anxious nation. According to data from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults in the United States. (The fact that we have an association devoted to anxiety says something about us, ...
What is Valium?
Valium, which is also available under the generic name diazepam, comes from the benzodiazepine class of drugs. It is most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders, muscle spasms, seizures, and symptoms caused by alcohol withdrawal.
What is Xanax?
Xanax, known generically as alprazolam, is also a benzodiazepine that is commonly prescribed for the treatment of anxiety. It can be used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety that is caused by depression.
Similarities
There are many similarities between Valium and Xanax, ranging from their intended purposes to side effects to warnings of use. In fact, there are more similarities than differences between the two types of benzodiazepines.
Primary Differences
While there are significant similarities between Valium and Xanax, there are also key differences. These differences can help indicate which mediation may be most appropriate for you to take if you are struggling with relevant medical symptoms.
Signs of Valium and Xanax Misuse
Despite being developed for medical purposes, Valium and Xanax have become widely misused drugs. People misuse them while under doctors’ supervision as well as recreationally.
How do benzodiazepines work?
The exact mechanism of action of benzodiazepines is not known, but they appear to work by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain, chemicals that nerves release in order to communicate with other nearby nerves.
Why do benzodiazepines cause anxiety?
Scientists believe that excessive activity of nerves may be the cause of anxiety and other psychological disorders, and benzodiazepines reduce the activity of nerves in the brain and spinal cord by enhancing the effects of GABA.
Which meds have slow onset?
Oxazepam ( Serax) has a slow onset, and lorazepam ( Ativan ), alprazolam ( Xanax ), and clonazepam ( Klonopin) have intermediate onsets of action. Clorazepate (Tranxene), midazolam (Versed), and triazolam ( Halcion) are short-acting agents with durations of action of 3 to 8 hours.
What are the side effects of benzodiazepines?
The most common side effects associated with benzodiazepines are: sedation, dizziness, weakness, and. unsteadiness. Other side effects include: transient drowsiness commonly experienced during the first few days of treatment, a feeling of depression, loss of orientation,
Can you abuse benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines are rarely the sole drug of abuse, and abusers usually combine benzodiazepines with other drugs to increase the effect. For example, benzodiazepines are combined with certain opioids, a class of strong prescription pain relievers, to enhance the euphoric effects. Among abusers, diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax) ...
Can benzodiazepines cause muscle cramps?
If benzodiazepines are taken continuously for longer than a few months, stopping therapy suddenly may produce seizures, tremors, muscle cramping, vomiting, and sweating. In order to avoid withdrawal symptoms, the dose of benzodiazepines should be tapered slowly.
Can benzodiazepines cause physical dependence?
aggression, excitement, and. memory impairment. All benzodiazepines can cause physical dependence. Suddenly stopping therapy after a few months of daily therapy may be associated with withdrawal symptoms which include a feeling of loss of self-worth, agitation, and insomnia.
How long are benzodiazepines safe to take?
Are benzodiazepines safe? When prescribed by a doctor and used for short periods of time, such as the day of surgery or for less than two weeks to aid sleep, benzodiazepines are safe to take.
What is the effect of benzodiazepines on the brain?
Benzodiazepines attach to these receptors and make the nerves in the brain less sensitive to stimulation, which has a calming effect.
What is the name of the chemical that makes the nerves in the brain?
They act on specific receptors in the brain, called gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA-A) receptors. Benzodiazepines attach to these receptors and make the nerves in the brain less sensitive ...
What is the half life of benzodiazepines?
Generic Name. Brand Name. Common Uses. Half-life*. * The half-life is the amount of time it takes for half of the drug to be eliminated from the body. The shorter the half-life, the quicker the drug is eliminated. All benzodiazepines are listed as DEA scheduled IV controlled substances.
Can benzodiazepines make you addicted?
Benzodiazepines are potentially addictive and the risk of becoming emotionally and physically dependent on them increases the more you take. In addition, tolerance can develop with their use. This is when the same dose no longer gives the same effect, and a dosage increase is needed to ease symptoms again.
Can withdrawal symptoms be caused by benzodiazepines?
vision problems (blurred or double vision). Withdrawal symptoms may occur with abrupt discontinuation – symptoms may include convulsions, cramps, insomnia, sweating, tremors, and vomiting. Some people develop a paradoxical reaction to benzodiazepines – this is the opposite reaction to what you would expect.
Do benzodiazepines work for a longer time?
In addition, some benzodiazepines are more potent than others or work for a longer length of time. The table below summarizes the common benzodiazepines available in the U.S.
What is a thienobenzodiazepine?
Thienobenzodiazepines (such as Olanzapine) are characterized as multi- receptor- targeted- acting- agents. This mini-review discusses these 2 drug classes that act on the central nervous system, the main active compounds used, and the various receptors with which they interact.
What are the binding sites for benzodiazepines?
There are two distinct types of pharmacological binding sites for benzodiazepines in the brain (BZ1 and BZ2), these sites are on GABA-A receptors, and are classified as short, intermediate, or long-acting. From the thienobenzodiazepine class (TBZ), Olanzapine (2-methyl-4- (4-methyl-l-piperazinyl)-10H-thieno [2,3-b] [1,5]benzodiazepine) (Zyprexa) ...
What is a BZD?
Abstract. Benzodiazepines (BZ or BZD) are a class of gabaminergic psychoactive chemicals used in hypnotics, sedation, in the treatment of anxiety, and in other CNS disorders . These drugs include alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin), and others.
What is a multi-target drug for CNS disorders?
Benzo- and thienobenzo- diazepines: multi-target drugs for CNS disorders.
Is Olanzapine a multi receptor drug?
The functional blockade of these multiple receptors contributes to the wide range of its pharmacologic and therapeutic activities, having relatively few side effects when compared to other antipsychotics agents. Thienobenzodiazepines (such as Olanzapine) are characterized as multi- receptor- targeted- acting- agents.