Sedative HypnoticsMay071306 (1)

7/28/2019 Sedative HypnoticsMay071306 (1)

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Sedative-Hypnotics

Benzodiazepines

Megan TrimbleDoctor of Pharmacy Candidate

April 2006


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What areSedative-Hypnotics?

Tranquilizers may be a more familiar term

used to describe sedative-hypnotic agents

(1)

Downer drugs

Drugs that take the edge off

Calm your mood when you are feeling

anxious Induce sleep (1)


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Benzodiazepines

Most frequent class of

drugs that have a

tranquilizing-type effectPrescription drugs (1)

http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/Drug_Guide/Prescription%20Sedatives%20Tranquilizers (2)
http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/Drug_Guide/Prescription%20Sedatives%20Tranquilizershttp://www.drugfree.org/Portal/Drug_Guide/Prescription%20Sedatives%20Tranquilizershttp://www.drugfree.org/Portal/Drug_Guide/Prescription%20Sedatives%20Tranquilizershttp://www.drugfree.org/Portal/Drug_Guide/Prescription%20Sedatives%20Tranquilizers


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Taking the Drugs

This class of drugs is fairly safe when

taken for their intended use and not used

in excess (1)

Most sedatives come in capsules or

tablets

Multi-colored

Liquid and injection forms are also

available (2)


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Taking the Drugs

The use of benzodiazepines can lead to

abuse, whether they are taken properly or

for the wrong reasons

http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugIssue/Features/Prescription_Medicine_Misuse Accessed May 2, 2006.
http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugIssue/Features/Prescription_Medicine_Misuse%20Accessed%20May%202http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugIssue/Features/Prescription_Medicine_Misuse%20Accessed%20May%202


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Prescription Benzodiazepines

Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)

Diazepam (Valium)

Temazepam (Restoril)

Triazolam (Halcion)

Clonazepam (Klonopin)

Lorazepam (Ativan)

Alprazolam (Xanax) (1,3)


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Why Do People Use

Benzodiazepines?

Reduce anxiety levels

Helps people to cope with stress (1)

Trouble sleepingIn combination with amphetamine-like

drugs

Many people use sedatives to calm

themselves back down from the rush

associated with amphetamine use


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Why Do People Use

Benzodiazepines?

To get away from

this!

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.long-island-hypnotherapy.com/images/anxiety Accessed May 2, 2006.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.long-island-hypnotherapy.com/images/anxiety%20Accessed%20May%202http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.long-island-hypnotherapy.com/images/anxiety%20Accessed%20May%202http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.long-island-hypnotherapy.com/images/anxiety%20Accessed%20May%202http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.long-island-hypnotherapy.com/images/anxiety%20Accessed%20May%202http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.long-island-hypnotherapy.com/images/anxiety%20Accessed%20May%202http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.long-island-hypnotherapy.com/images/anxiety%20Accessed%20May%202


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Short-Term Effects

(Low Doses)

Euphoria

Being in a happy world

Fatigue

Feeling drowsy

Shallow breathing

Not being able to take full, deep, normalbreaths (2)

Trouble coordinating your movements


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Short-Term Effects

(High Doses)

Paranoia

Having an unrealistic perception of

something, someone, or some place in

relationship to the world and you

Aggression

Easily agitated

Difficulty remembering

Irritability (2)


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Effects in Overdose

Unconsciousness

Respiratory depression

Collapse of heart and heart functionsWalking difficulty

CNS depression

Shallow breathing Not being able to take full, deep, normal

breaths (1,2)


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Long-term Effects

Rebound effects

Over use of these drugs can cause a reversal effect

Seizures can occur; calm and relaxed feelings dissipate

Tolerance develops, resulting in dependence

Must have more and more of the drug to feel an even minor

effects

Higher risk of overdose

Withdrawal

This leads to dependence as well

No one wants to feel the unpleasant withdrawal effects, so

continues use (2)


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Cognitive Effects

Memory impairment/Amnesia

Confusion

Sleepiness (1)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=sleeping+cartoon Accessed May 2, 2006.

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=cognitiveAccessed May 2, 2006.
http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=sleeping+cartoonhttp://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=cognitivehttp://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=cognitivehttp://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=sleeping+cartoonhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.orgsites.com/oh/victorybap/cartoon011tn.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.myspace.com/koops&h=233&w=250&sz=10&tbnid=kEAmbZFqFo8yyM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=106&hl=en&start=15&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsleeping%2Bcartoon%26svnum%3D10%26hl


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Psychological Effects

Relaxation

Helps with the daily stresses of life/relieves tension

Anxiety from school and peer stresses

Drowsy Easier to sleep/induces sleep (1,2)

Distracts you from other problems going on

around you and in your own life

Just a temporary fix; the problem never goes away


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Benzodiazepine Pharmacology

CNS Depressant (1)

The major action of the benzodiazepine drug

class is focused in the brain

Can cross the blood brain barrier (BBB)

Easy access to the brain where the drugs exert

their effect

Affects other body systems as well Heart

Acts on different sites (receptors) of the heart (1)


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Benzodiazepine Pharmacology

Benzodiazepines act

on the GABA system in

the brain Increase function (1)

http://www.stayinginshape.com/3chsbuffalo/libv/m02.shtml Accessed May 2, 2006.
http://www.stayinginshape.com/3chsbuffalo/libv/m02.shtml%20Accessed%20May%202http://www.stayinginshape.com/3chsbuffalo/libv/m02.shtml%20Accessed%20May%202


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Duration of Benzodiazepines

These prescription drugs are long acting

Even after the effects wear off, the drug is

still in your system for a long period of time

Hours

Days

Weeks

During this lengthy period of time, these drugs will

show up in blood tests and drug screens (1, 2)


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Danger: Caution

It is extremely dangerous to use these

drugs in combination with alcohol

Since these drugs stay in your

body for a long period of time, drinking

can effect your body even when you

are not feeling the effects of the sedative

type drug.

Slowed breathing/decrease lung function

Decrease heart rate (1,2)

http://images.google.com/images?q=alcohol&hl=en Accessed May 2, 2006.
http://images.google.com/images?q=alcohol&hl=enhttp://images.google.com/images?q=alcohol&hl=enhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/teenworkers/images/alcohol.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/teenworkers/hazards_alcohol.html&h=180&w=158&sz=29&tbnid=srwazAQFQWDuFM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=84&hl=en&start=5&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dalcohol%


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Caution: Overdosing

Due to the tolerance that develops with

benzodiazepines and the lengthy duration

in the body, overdosing can have an all of

a sudden effect

Overdose symptoms may not be felt until 12-

36 hours after overdose has already occurred

(1,2)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=overdosingAccessed May 2, 2006.
http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=overdosinghttp://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=overdosinghttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.rit.edu/~jmw9523/lj/Overdose.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.vampirefreaks.com/u/pOeTiC_dEcAy&h=266&w=400&sz=43&tbnid=ajGACwiWBt_ncM:&tbnh=79&tbnw=120&hl=en&start=4&prev=/images%3Fq%3Doverdosing%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den


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Withdrawal Symptoms

Tachycardia increase in heart rate

Severe headaches

Panic attacks can occur

Tremors

Changes in perception not fully in tune with, or

aware of, everything going on around you

Weight lossParasthesias

Pins and needles/tingling feeling (1)


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Summary

Benzodiazepines is a class of drugs that have an effecton the brain that, in turn, induces sleep and causesfeelings of relief, relaxation and a state of euphoria.

Benzodiazepines should only be taken as prescribed by

your physician. Although this class of drugs is one of thesafest classes of prescription drugs, consuming thesedrugs should not be taken lightly. If anything, greatercaution should be taken.

Although the initial and intended feelings from use are

almost always addicting. Continuing and exceeding usefor this reason can only lead to trouble. Respiratory,heart and psychological problems can occur, as well aswithdrawal, overdosing and even death.


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References

(1) Goldfranks Toxicologic Emergencies. 7th ed. c2002. The McGraw-Hill

Companies, Inc. Chapter 63 Sedative-Hypnotic Agents April 10th 2006

[Date accessed]. Available from STAT!Ref [database on the Internet]

(2) Prescription Sedatives and Tranquilizers. [about 2 screens] The

Partnership for a Drug-Free America. [Internet Website] c2006. Partnershipfor a Drug-Free America. [in association with] 10 April 2006 [date accessed]

(3) Drug facts and comparisons. St. Louis: Facts and Comparisons, c2005[cited 2006 May 1]. Diazepam; [about 7 screens]. Available from: Facts &

Comparisons 4.0 [proprietary database on in Internet].

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