Benzodiazepines: Uses

• Major indication is for use in treatment of severely debilitating anxiety (because of their anxiolytic properties)

• Effective as hypnotics, as they possess many of the same sedative qualities as barbiturates

  • Therefore useful in treatment of insomnia

• Effective muscle relaxants

• Generate anterograde amnesia

  • Lorazepam → long-lasting amnesia

  • Midazolam → short-lasting amnesia

• Useful for panic attacks and phobias

  • Efficacy may be less than that achieved with SSRI’s

• Treatment of alcohol withdrawal

• Effective anticonvulsant → useful in treatment of epilepsy

• Advantages:

  • Rapid onset

  • Anxiolysis

  • Low-level side effects

• Disadvantages:

  • Impaired psychomotor performance and alertness

  • Potential for dependence and abuse

Category: Pharmacology Notes