World Benzodiazepine Day

Today is World Benzodiazepine Day. A good time to reflect on the use of these medications. Benzodiazepines are drugs that work for anxiety, tension and sleep problems. Perhaps you use them yourself, or know someone who does. These medications help in the short term, but also carry risks if you use them for longer periods of time.

What are benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines are medications that calm your brain. They make you feel calmer or fall asleep more easily. Well-known examples are diazepam, oxazepam, lorazepam and temazepam. Doctors usually prescribe them for insomnia, anxiety or restlessness. They work quickly and can provide temporary relief. They enhance the action of a substance in your brain called GABA. GABA is a kind of "inhibitor. It causes your body to relax and your brain to transmit fewer stimuli.

If you experience too much tension, anxiety or stress, GABA helps inhibit it. Benzodiazepines enhance this natural system temporarily. You then feel calmer, less anxious or sleepy.

Examples of benzodiazepines are:

Oxazepam - for anxiety or tension
Temazepam - for sleep problems
Lorazepam - for restlessness or as a sleep aid
Diazepam - for muscle tension, anxiety or epilepsy

They usually work fast: Within 30 minutes to 1 hour. But the effect is temporary, usually several hours to half a day.

(source: pharmacy.co.uk, knmp.co.uk)

What does it do to your body?

If you take a benzodiazepine:

Your muscles relax
Your heart rate drops slightly
Your breathing becomes calmer
You feel less anxiety or tension
You fall asleep more easily

But: it can also make you drowsy or sleepy during the day. It can slow down your memory and reaction time. This makes driving dangerous.

(source: thuisarts.nl, rijksoverheid.nl

Risk of addiction and habituation

What many people don't know is that benzodiazepines can be addictive. If you use them for a long time, your body gets used to them. You then need more and more to feel the same effect. You may also experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop, such as tremors, sweating or feelings of anxiety. That is why it is important not to use benzodiazepines for more than a few weeks at a time, unless there is a good reason.

(source: thuisarts.nl, apotheek.nl)

Withdrawal together: how to do it?

Have you been using benzodiazepines for some time? Then it is wise to make a phasing out plan together with your doctor and with us. It is important not to stop all at once. You reduce the drug slowly, in small steps. This reduces the risk of withdrawal symptoms.

In the pharmacy we help you with this. Together with you and your doctor, we make a personal phasing out schedule. We take into account your situation, your dosage and how long you have been taking the drug. Sometimes we make special phasing out capsules or tailor-made doses.

(source: knmp.nl)

What is the role of the pharmacy?

As a pharmacy, we are not just there to give you medicine. We actively think with you about safe use. With benzodiazepines, we pay extra attention to repeat prescriptions. Is long-term use still necessary? Or is it time to taper off?

We explain the effects, side effects and risks. We also help you if you want to stop or reduce your use. We listen, think with you and provide an approach that suits you.

(source: rijksoverheid.nl, apotheek.nl)

Use mindfully

Benzodiazepines are useful medications, but only if you use them mindfully and for short periods of time. World Benzodiazepine Day reminds us how important it is to look at proper use together. Do you have questions about your use? Or would you like to know how to taper off? Then don't wait.