Side Effects of Benzodiazepines

What to Think about Before Taking These Medications

May 19, 2009 Naheed Ali

Benzodiazepines are used to treat seizures. However, there can be numerous side effects of this medication that one should be aware of.

Benzodiazepines are brain depressants, which implies that they can hamper your imagination, judgment, and motor skills. These effects are generally not serious, but they are a major drawback for a few individuals. A lot of drugs for seizures can interact with other drugs you may be using, such as benzodiazepines.

This means that your seizure drug may not function as well, or it may disrupt the way a different drug you are consuming works. Some of these interactions may be dangerous. It is crucial to tell your physician about all the medications, herbal pills, and dietary supplements you are consuming.

Long-Term Use of Benzodiazepines

Chronic use of benzodiazepines can frequently lead to physical and psychological dependence on the medication (addiction). Consumption of benzodiazepines may reduce seizures initially, but a few individuals start to have epileptic episodes (seizures) again after taking the drug for weeks or months (tolerance).

To alleviate their epilepsy, they have to increase the dosage, which tends to worsen side effects. Sudden withdrawal of the medicine may cause you to experience status epilepticus, or it can make the seizures worse.

Benzodiazepines and Birth Defects

All drugs for seizures have a few risk of birth abnormalities. However, the risk of birth abnormalities can be extremely severe. Birth defects caused by benzodiazepines include cleft lip (cleft palate) in babies.

Benzodiazepines have been found to cause other facial abnormalities. Furthermore, these drugs have caused a few cases of mental retardation.

Using Benzodiazepines

For younger patients or grownups who have episodic groups of seizures (acute continual seizures) in spite of chronic medication treatment, rectal diazepam (Diastat) may be a great option for addressing them at home.

It generally halts the series of seizures rapidly, and family members may care for the individual at home safely and comfortably.

Stopping certain kinds of continual seizures may prevent status epilepticus and other troubles associated with extended seizures and may help relatives keep away from ER visits, especially if a family member has a chronic history of acute repetitive episodes.

When using benzodiazepines, keep away from alcohol or medications known to be brain depressants. This may help to keep down the side effects of benzodiazepines.

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References:

Alexandros N. Vgontzas, Anthony Kales, et al. (1995). "Benzodiazepine Side Effects: Role of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics." Pharmacology. 51; 205-223.

Robert Perna, Mel B. Glenn. (2004). Update on Pharmacology: Benzodiazepines and Antipsychotics: Cognitive Side Effects. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. (19): 6; 516-18. November/December.

The copyright of the article Side Effects of Benzodiazepines in General Medicine is owned by Naheed Ali. Permission to republish Side Effects of Benzodiazepines in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Side Effects of Benzodiazepines