BENZO ADDICTION
Benzodiazepines
Stress levels in everyday life have skyrocketed and with it, codependency on anti-anxiety medications to temper panic attacks and other stress-related symptoms. What many people don’t realize is how addictive benzodiazepines are, as well as other similar medications. How they affect a person’s neurochemistry not only alters the natural fight or flight response but poses dangerous health risks and withdrawals once use of benzos have stopped.
- ATIVAN
- KLONOPIN
- VALIUM
- XANAX
Ativan
Ativan is the brand name for Lorazepam, an anti-anxiety medication also prescribed to treat other ailments ranging from insomnia to epilepsy. It is classified as a long-acting benzodiazepine and is rarely prescribed for longer than 4 months at a time due to its high potential dependency.
Klonopin
Klonopin, also known in the generic form as Clonazepam, is a benzodiazepine, sedative medication useful as an anti-anxiety and anti-convulsant drug. Doctors prescribe Klonopin to control or prevent seizures and reduce anxiety from panic attacks.
Valium
Valium is the brand name for Diazepam, a benzodiazepine that is popularly prescribed to treat muscle spasms, panic disorder, anxiety and other medical conditions. In some cases, Valium is used to treat people suffering from alcohol withdrawal. Once ingested, the drug acts as a depressant in the body, calming down the central nervous system (CNS) and relaxing the mind.
Xanax
Xanax, or the generic form Alprazolam, is a powerful and highly addictive benzodiazepine drug which can be prescribed by doctors to treat anxiety, phobias, mood disorders, seizures, and panic disorders. It has gone on to become the most highly prescribed benzodiazepine in the United States with about 50 million prescriptions written each year. This medication acts quickly and produces effects, such as feelings of euphoria, within an hour of ingestion.