Most medications are specifically designed to treat specific symptoms caused by certain conditions or diseases. Benzodiazepine is certainly one such medication, as it is used in cases of anxiety, phobias, depression and other disorders. Of course, these must be taken under medical control and prescription, and even in those cases it is possible that this medication may become addictive.
It is therefore very important to analyze the patient’s behavior and response to the benzodiazepine. In addition to physical consultations, blood tests by a laboratory can also help doctors to understand if it is helping or if it is better to prescribe another treatment. Therefore, today we will see in which cases this drug is used and what types of it exist for each case.
What is benzodiazepine?
. Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that are prescribed for patients with various medical and psychiatric conditions. Todos los tipos que existen son seguros para el paciente y han sido muy exitosos para ciertas patologías. Algunas de las que más destacamos son:
Anxiety disorders
Benzodiazepines are often widely prescribed for the short-term treatment of generalized anxiety disorders, panic, specific phobias and social anxiety disorder. They help to reduce anxiety symptoms and calm the central nervous system due to their anxiolytic, hypnotic, antiepileptic and muscle relaxant effect.
Sleep disorders
The relaxing effect we have just discussed is also used to treat short-term insomnia when other measures have not been effective.
Muscle spasms
In cases of severe muscle spasm or spasticity, benzodiazepine may be prescribed to relax the muscles and relieve the associated pain.
Seizures and epilepsy
Some benzodiazepines, such as diazepam or clonazepam, are used as anticonvulsant drugs to control seizures in patients with epilepsy or other conditions that cause seizures.
Withdrawal symptoms
In situations of alcohol or other drug withdrawal, these drugs are administered to help control withdrawal symptoms and prevent serious complications such as seizures.
Psychiatric disorders
They are sometimes used as adjuvants in the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar and other mood disorders when there are significant symptoms of anxiety or agitation.
It is important to keep in mind that benzodiazepines are potent drugs and should be administered under the supervision of a physician and on a short-term basis (as a general rule) due to the risk of dependence and tolerance.
Types of benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are classified according to their half-life, i.e., the time it takes for them to take effect. There are therefore 4 typologies:
Long-lasting benzodiazepines
Its effect can last between 40 and 200 hours. Some of the names or examples of known Benzodiazepines of this type are diazepam (Valium) and flurazepam. They are prescribed as anxiolytics, anti-epileptics, muscle relaxants and for insomnia due to their hypnotic effect.
Benzodiazepines of intermediate life
They have an effect that can last between 20 and 40 hours. Some of them are clonazepam, flunitrazepam or bromazepam (Lexatin), all of them useful to relieve tension, nervousness and anxiety.
Short-lived benzodiazepines
Lorazepam (short-acting sedative), temazepam (treatment of insomnia) and oxazepam (calms anxiety and nervousness) are the most famous examples, whose effect lasts between 5 and 20 hours.
Very short-lived benzodiazepines
They have an effect of only 1 or 2 hours at most. Triazolam and midazolam stand out, used as sedatives in medical procedures and surgeries to relieve anxiety and cause drowsiness to proceed with the operation.
We cannot forget that the effect of the benzodiazepine on the patient, whether for a surgical intervention or to calm anxiety, will depend entirely on his physical characteristics, his medical history and the prescription of his treatment (amount and frequency of use).
How does one become addicted?
We have mentioned above that these types of drugs are safe for the patient, but that it is nevertheless possible for them to cause addiction if they are not taken properly or the physician’s treatment instructions are not heeded. The main reasons why the patient usually ends up depending on them to the level of addiction have to do with their mechanism of action and the way they affect the brain and the body:
Action on the Central Nervous System (CNS)
Benzodiazepines act by increasing the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the brain. This inhibitory neurotransmitter reduces neuronal excitability and produces relaxation and sedation effects. Therefore, an increase in its activity can create calm and well-being, a much desired sensation for people experiencing anxiety or insomnia.
Development of tolerance
The continued use of benzodiazepine produces, like many other drugs or substances, a development of tolerance to it in the body. As time goes by, the patient will need higher doses for the effect to be the same as at the beginning of the treatment.
Physical dependence
Physical dependence occurs when the body adapts to the regular presence of the drug and becomes unable to function normally without it. If the intake is interrupted, the sensation of withdrawal is practically the same as that of an addiction, so it can cause severe anxiety, insomnia, tremors, sweating, and even convulsions in extreme cases in the patient.
Psychological impact
In addition to physical dependence, benzodiazepines can also have a significant psychological impact. The fact that it rapidly relieves symptoms of anxiety and stress may on the other hand lead to an emotional dependence on the drug in stressful situations.
Recreational use and abuse
Because of its sedative and relaxing effects, some people may use this drug recreationally to obtain a sense of euphoria or to enhance the effects of other substances. Both this use and abuse of benzodiazepine can significantly increase the risk of addiction and related health problems.
Individual and contextual factors
Factors such as genetics, the patient’s history of addiction, social environment and underlying mental health problems can influence the likelihood of developing benzodiazepine addiction.
How to avoid addiction?
Although prescription, benzodiazepine-containing drugs have become a public health problem due to their misuse.. Siempre se deben seguir las indicaciones del médico, pero su uso sigue siendo más o menos autónomo en ciertas ocasiones en las que se indica, por ejemplo, que se tome ‘según necesidad’. Esta forma de entender la medicación la integra en la vida cotidiana de forma simple y llega a generar una dependencia sobre ellas para enfrentarse a situaciones que pueden causar ansiedad o estrés. Para prevenir la adicción siempre se recomienda:
- Educate the patient by providing hygienic guidelines for the consumption of this type of drug.
- Perform accurate diagnosticsThe treatment should preferably be carried out by psychiatric specialists to understand the root of the problem. In this way we will be able to adjust the treatment with the specific drug, its appropriate doses and to establish a defined and closed duration of treatment.
- Evaluate therapeutic alternatives, especially in patients with a history of addictions or consumption of other types of depressant substances (alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, etc.).
- Recommend the adoption of healthy habits, such as physical activity, to reduce anxiety and promote emotional stability.
These measures can help to more effectively manage benzodiazepine use and mitigate the risks associated with benzodiazepine dependence.
Eliminate drug dependence
We have already discussed the preliminary steps that medical professionals can take to help and raise awareness of the risk of developing dependence on these types of medications. However, it is possible for a patient to end up developing addiction to them. Crucially, the first step is an evaluation by a psychiatric specialist to diagnose the situation. This will determine the course of subsequent treatment, as it is essential to understand whether there is excessive consumption and the degree of addiction in order to help overcome it.
Treatment is generally uniform for all drugs, regardless of the substance involved, and consists of four phases known as detoxification (elimination of the substance from the body), detoxification (promotion of healthy habits), recovery and reintegration.
In the specific case of the development of benzodiazepine dependence, the initial phase of detoxification is carried out gradually.. Este paso es crucial debido a los efectos adversos que pueden surgir si se interrumpe bruscamente el uso de estos fármacos (ansiedad extrema, nerviosismo o síndrome de abstinencia). Gradually and guided by a medical specialist, the patient will be able to recover from dependence and prevent relapses or rebound effects. To achieve a complete withdrawal of benzodiazepines, it is essential that the person is motivated to stop taking them.
. Además, establecer hábitos saludables, incluyendo la incorporación regular de actividad física, puede ser crucial para una recuperación exitosa del paciente.
Blood test for benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepine is analyzed in blood by specific laboratory tests. capable of detecting and quantifying its presence in the bloodstream. It is necessary to take a blood sample from the patient through a venipuncture, which is collected in a test tube for subsequent blood analysis.
This sample will be processed to separate the serum or plasma, where the benzodiazepines are found, from the cellular components of the blood. The analytical techniques commonly used are gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS). In gas chromatography, benzodiazepines are separated according to their molecular structure and detected with a sensitive detector. In mass spectrometry, the substances are fragmented and the fragments are analyzed to identify and quantify the substance present.
The results of the analysis are finally compared with known standards to determine the exact concentration of benzodiazepines in the blood sample of the patient. The report will detail the presence and quantity detected, a result that will be used by physicians and specialists to evaluate the appropriate use of these substances by the patient and for other medical purposes.
It is essential that the analysis of benzodiazepines in blood is performed in certified clinical laboratories and under the supervision of trained technical personnel to ensure accurate and reliable results. That is why with Ambar Lab you can rest assured that our laboratory is made up of a group of people ready to meet your needs and to respond to them with customized and updated solutions. If you would like to know more about our areas of expertise or if you have any questions, just contact us at contact our team so that we can give you a personalized answer.
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Benzodiazepine is a type of medication used in cases of anxiety, phobias, depression and other disorders.
They help reduce anxiety symptoms and calm the central nervous system thanks to their anxiolytic, hypnotic, anti-epileptic and muscle relaxant effects.
They must be taken under medical control and prescription, and even in those cases it is possible that this drug may become addictive.
In the specific case of the development of benzodiazepine dependence, the initial phase of detoxification is carried out gradually.
This step is crucial because of the adverse effects that can arise if the use of these drugs is abruptly discontinued.
Gradually and guided by a medical specialist, the patient will be able to recover from dependence and prevent relapses or rebound effects.
