Types of medicine
What Is a Benzodiazepine? Benzos and Their Warnings
Benzodiazepine · say it: ben-zoh-dy-AZ-uh-peenAlso written: benzo, benzos, benzodiazepines
Short answer
A benzodiazepine is a type of calming medicine used for anxiety, sleep problems, seizures or muscle spasm. It can cause drowsiness and dependence.
What it means
Benzodiazepines, often called benzos, are a group of medicines that calm the brain and nervous system. They are used for anxiety, short-term sleep problems, seizures, alcohol withdrawal, muscle spasm and before some procedures. Names often end in '-pam' or '-lam', such as diazepam and lorazepam.
Their labels carry serious warnings. Combining them with opioids or alcohol can slow breathing dangerously. Using them regularly can lead to physical dependence, so stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, which in some cases can be serious. They can also cause drowsiness, poor coordination and falls, especially in older people. The warnings are telling you to use them only as prescribed and not to stop suddenly without advice.
Benzodiazepines are different from antidepressants, which are also used for anxiety but work in a different way and more slowly. Some sleep medicines, sometimes called Z-drugs, act in a similar way to benzodiazepines.
Where you may see it
- Boxed warning on US benzodiazepine labels
- Medicine leaflets under 'Dependence and withdrawal'
- Controlled-drug prescriptions and pharmacy records
📄 How it looks on a report
Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Physical dependence is not the same as addiction, though both can happen.
- It does not mean you must never take one; they are useful for some people when carefully managed.
- Do not stop suddenly after regular use; ask your prescriber about tapering.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Benzodiazepine”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Benzodiazepine”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Alprazolam
a benzodiazepine, a type of central nervous system medicine
- Aripiprazole
an atypical antipsychotic medicine
- Bupropion Hydrochloride
an aminoketone antidepressant, a type of medicine used to treat depression
- Clonazepam
a benzodiazepine, a type of medicine that slows activity in the central nervous system
- Diazepam
A benzodiazepine, a type of medicine that slows activity in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
- Fluoxetine
a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a type of antidepressant medicine
- Lorazepam
A benzodiazepine, a type of anxiety medicine
- Mirtazapine
An antidepressant medicine. The label describes it as having a tetracyclic chemical structure and belonging to the piperazino-azepine group of compounds.
- Montelukast
A leukotriene receptor antagonist, a medicine that blocks substances in the body called leukotrienes.
- Morphine Sulfate
a strong prescription opioid pain medicine (the label describes it as an opioid agonist)
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Benzodiazepine” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “benzodiazepine”
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General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.