Connect with us

Global Health

Benzodiazepines: how do they work?

Published

on

Benzodiazepines: how do they work?

Benzodiazepines are a category of medicines used to treat generalized anxiety disorder, anxiety disorder, insomnia, panic disorder, procedural/surgical sedation or amnesia, skeletal muscle spasm, tremor, and delirium (Comerford and Durkin, 2022). The exact actions of benzodiazepines are usually not fully understood, but they’ve been found to act selectively on polysynaptic neuronal pathways throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Let’s take a better have a look at the mechanism of motion of benzodiazepines.

Action mechanism

Benzodiazepines enhance or facilitate the motion of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter within the CNS that suppresses nerve activity. These drugs appear to act on the limbic, thalamic, and hypothalamic levels of the CNS, producing anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, skeletal muscle relaxant, and anticonvulsant effects (Comerford and Durkin, 2022).
AND
At the cellular level, the speed of impulses from the presynaptic neuron through the synapse is influenced by the variety of chloride ions within the postsynaptic neuron. The passage of chloride ions into the postsynaptic neuron depends upon the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. When GABA is released from the presynaptic neuron, it travels across the synapse and binds to GABA receptors on the postsynaptic neuron. This binding opens chloride channels, allowing chloride ions to flow into the postsynaptic neuron, which causes nerve impulses to decelerate. The result’s a distinct sort of depression. Benzodiazepines bind to receptors on or near the GABA receptor, enhancing the consequences of GABA and allowing more chloride ions to flow into the postsynaptic neuron. This weakens nerve impulses, causing them to decelerate or stop.
AND

Medicines and indications

Alprazolam Xanax® Anxiety, anxiety states
Chlordiazepoxide Librium® Anxiety, alcohol withdrawal
Clobazam Onfi®, Sympazan® Panic disorder
Clonazepam Klonopin® Anxiety, anxiety, epileptic seizures
Clorazepate Tranxene® Anxiety, seizure disorders
Diazepam Valium® Anxiety, muscle relaxant, procedural anxiety/surgical sedation, seizure disorders
Estazolam Not applicable Insomnia
Flurazepam Not applicable Insomnia
Lorazepam Ativan® Anxiety, procedural anxiety/surgical sedation, seizure disorders
Midazolam Oriented® Procedural anxiety/surgical sedation, seizure disorder
Oxazepam Serax®® Bow
Quazepam Doral® Insomnia
Remimazolam Byfavo® Composure
Temazepam Restoril® Anxiety, insomnia
Triazolam Halcion® Anxiety, insomnia

 Â

Contraindications (Facts and comparisons, 2021)

The use of benzodiazepines is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients of the drug; severe hypersensitivity to dextran or products containing dextran; pregnancy; acute narrow angle glaucoma; untreated open angle glaucoma; significant liver disease; infants younger than 6 months; myasthenia gravis; concomitant administration with CYP3A inhibitors; sleep apnea; and severe respiratory problems.

Side effects and monitoring (Comerford and Durkin, 2022)

The principal unintended effects of benzodiazepines include drowsiness, impaired motor function, visual disturbances, and cardiovascular abnormalities. Toxic doses may cause short-term memory problems, confusion, severe depression, dizziness, slurred speech, bradycardia, respiratory depression, respiratory arrest, or severe weakness. Long-term or frequent use may result in the event of dependence and withdrawal symptoms when the dose is reduced or therapy is discontinued. The antidote to benzodiazepine overdose is intravenous flumazenil.
AND
Full details may be present in the leaflet that comes with the medication or within the Nursing2022 Medicines Manual + medicines updates.
AND

AND
Facts and Comparisons (2022, July 7). Benzodiazepines. . https://fco.factsandcomparisons.com/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/fc_dfc/5545912

AND
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2020, September 23). Information about benzodiazepine drugs.
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-drug-class/benzodiazepine-drug-information

AND
Comerford, K. C., and Durkin, M. T. (2022). (forty second ed.) Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

AND

AND

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Our Newsletter

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending