Your healthcare provider is prescribing a benzodiazepine medication for you. Commonly used medications in this class include diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), clonazepam (Klonopin), and alprazolam (Xanax). In psychiatry, these medications are primarily used to manage anxiety. However, they may also be prescribed for other conditions such as muscle spasms and seizure disorders.
It is generally not recommended to use benzodiazepines for long-term treatment of anxiety. Medical studies have shown that benzodiazepines can become less effective in treating anxiety even after short-term use. Benzodiazepines are closely monitored by the FDA and your provider. Prescription monitoring databases are checked frequently to verify your prescriptions. New prescriptions should be requested at least 7 business days before you need them to allow adequate time for refills as appropriate. Due to the need for close monitoring, lost or stolen prescriptions may not be refilled or replaced.
It is important to take these medications as prescribed. All benzodiazepines share similar potential side effects. Some of the most frequently reported ones include drowsiness, confusion/forgetfulness, dizziness, slurred speech, and depression. It's crucial to exercise extreme caution when driving or operating heavy machinery while using these medications, as they can slow your reflexes and impair your response time.
If not used as prescribed, benzodiazepines can be dangerous. An overdose can result from taking too many pills at one time. This may lead to severe drowsiness and confusion. In extreme cases, it can cause respiratory depression and progress to coma and potentially result in death, especially when combined with other substances, including alcohol.
Tolerance can occur with the use of benzodiazepines. Tolerance is defined as a need for a higher dose to maintain the same effect. If your provider determines that continued escalation