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HISTORY OF BENZODIAZEPINES WHAT THE TEXTBOOKS MAY NOT TELL YOU

HISTORY OF BENZODIAZEPINES WHAT THE TEXTBOOKS MAY NOT TELL YOU Heather Ashton, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. ANXIOLYTIC DRUGS THROUGH THE AGES. Alcohol 8000 years Opium 1000s of years Bromides 1870s Also chloral hydrate, paraldehyde Barbiturates 1903-1912

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HISTORY OF BENZODIAZEPINES WHAT THE TEXTBOOKS MAY NOT TELL YOU

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  1. HISTORY OF BENZODIAZEPINES WHAT THE TEXTBOOKS MAY NOT TELL YOU Heather Ashton, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

  2. ANXIOLYTIC DRUGS THROUGH THE AGES Alcohol 8000 years Opium 1000s of years Bromides 1870s Also chloral hydrate, paraldehyde Barbiturates 1903-1912 Also carbromal, glutethimide, methaqualone etc Benzodiazepines 1960 Librium; 1963 Valium Z drugs zopiclone 1998; eszopiclone 2005

  3. Morbidity in 50 long-term benzodiazepine users After starting benzodiazepines: 20% - took drug overdose requiring hospital admission 20% - developed incapacitating agoraphobia 18% - had GI investigations (irritable bowel) 10% - had neurological investigations (3 wrongly diagnosed as MS) 62% - received other psychotropic drugs (antidepressants) 28% - were taking 2 prescribed benzodiazepines

  4. Some Common Acute Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptoms Symptoms common to all Symptoms less common in anxiety states anxiety states; relatively specific to benzodiazerpine withdrawal Anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia Perceptual disturbances, sense movement Insomnia, nightmares Depersonalisation, derealisation Depression, dysphoria Hallucinations (visual, auditory), Excitability, jumpiness, restlessness misperceptions Poor memory, concentration Distortion of body image Dizziness, lightheadedness Tingling, numbness, altered sensation Weakness, “jelly legs” Formication Tremor Sensory hypersensitivity (light, sound, Muscle pain, stiffness taste, smell) (limbs, back, neck, jaw, head) Muscle twitches, jerks, fasiculation Sweating, night sweats Tinnitus Palpitations Psychotic symptoms Confusion, delirium Fits

  5. SOME PROTRACTED BENZODIAZEPINE “WITHDRAWAL” SYMPTOMS Anxiety Depression Gastrointestinal Neurological tinnitus ?peripheral neuropathy motor - muscle spasms, ticks, jerks “restless legs syndrome” ?cognitive impairment

  6. SOCIOECONOMIC COSTS OF INAPPROPRIATE BENZODIAZEPINE PRESCRIBING 1. Increased mortality from overdose, suicide 2. Increased risk of accidents traffic. Home, work, falls and fractures in elderly 3. Increased risk of aggressive behaviour, assault, antisocial acts 4. Contribution to marital/domestic disharmony 5. Increased risk to foetus, infants, children 6. Contribution to job loss, unemployment, loss of work through illness 7. Cost of medical consultations, hospital admissions/ investigations 8. Dependence and withdrawal reactions 9. Recreational abuse - AIDS, hepatitis, unwanted pregnancy 10. Costs of drug NHS prescriptions 11. Costs to DHSS due to disability 12. Costs of litigation

  7. THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS OF BENZODIAZEPINES ActionsClinical uses Hypnotic Short-term treatment of insomnia Anxiolytic (tranquillising) Short-term treatment of severe anxiety Short-term aid to alcohol withdrawal Acute treatment of violent psychotic states Anticonvulsant Epileptic and drug-induced convulsions Amnesic Premedication before surgery Muscle relaxant Muscle spasms, dystonias

  8. ADVERSE EFFECTS OF BENZODIAZEPINES • 1. Over-sedation • Depressed psychomotor performance, poor memory, ataxia • contribute to car accidents, shoplifting • Most marked in the elderly, may produce mental confusion • contribute to falls and fractures • 2. Additive effects with other CNS depressants • e.g. alcohol, drug overdose • 3. Disinhibition • Aggressiveness ? Contribute to baby battering, wife beating • Depression, emotional blunting • Cognitive impairment • 6. Adverse effects in pregnancy • Neonatal depression • 7. Abuse • 8. Tolerance, dependence, withdrawal effects

  9. HALF-LIVES AND EQUIVALENT POTENCIES OF BENZODIAZEPINE ANXIOLYTICS Benzodiazepine Half-life (hrs) Approximate [active equivalent metabolite] oral dosages (mg) _______________________________________________________ Alprazolam (Xanax) 6-12 0.5 Clonazepam (Klonepin) 18-50 0.5 Lorazepam (Ativan) 10-20 1 Diazepam (Valium) 20-100 10 [26-200] Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) 5-30 25 Clorazepate (Tranxene) [36-200] 15 Oxazepam (Serax) 4-15 20

  10. HALF-LIVES AND EQUIVALENT POTENCIES OF BENZODIAZEPINE HYPNOTICS Benzodiazepine Half-life (hrs) Approximate [active metabolite] equivalent oral dosages (mg) ______________________________________________________ Triazolam (Halcion) 2 0.5 Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) 18-26 1 [36-200] Nitrazepam (Mogadon) 15-38 10 Temazepam (Restoril) 8-22 20 Flunitrazepam (Dalmane) [40-250] 15-30 Diazepam (Valium) 20-100 10 [36-200]

  11. PATIENTS VULNERABLE TO INCREASED RISKS OF BENZODIAZEPINES Condition Risks ________________________________________ Older age (>65yrs) Mental confusion, amnesia, falls and fractures Chronic respiratory disease Respiratory depression Liver disease Oversedation Depression Exacerbation, suicide risk Other sedative drugs Additive effects Pregnancy Neonatal depression, withdrawal Alcohol/drug abuse Increased risk of dependence Genetic factors Slow metabolisers ______________________________________

  12. HALF-LIVES AND EQUIVALENT POTENCIES OF Z-DRUGS Z drug Half-life (hrs) Approximate [active metabolite] equivalent oral dosages (mg) ________________________________________________________ Zaleplon (Sonata) 1-2 20 Zolpidem (Ambien) 2 20 Zopiclone (Zimovane) 5-6 15 Eszopiclone (Lunesta) 6 3 (9 in elderly) Diazepam (Valium) 20-100 10 [36-200]

  13. BENZODIAZEPINE WITHDRAWAL Basic principles 1. Gradual dosage reduction - individual withdrawal rate - adjuvant drugs 2. Psychological support - simple encouragement to psychological therapies - long term - information - motivation

  14. ADJUVANT DRUGS IN BENZODIAZEPINE WITHDRAWAL Sometimes indicated antidepressants - depression, agoraphobia, sedation -blockers - tremor, palpitations carbamazepine - fits (high dose Bz) sedative antihistamines Not helpful buspirone, clonidine, nifedipine, ? Alpidem, ? Gabapentin

  15. SOME STEPS NEEDED TO REDUCE BENZODIAZEPINE PRESCRIBING (1) New Patients • Short-term prescriptions (2-4 weeks only) in minimal dosage • Avoid potent benzodiazepines (alprazolam, lorazepam, clonazepam) • Consider rescheduling benzodiazepines • Develop non-drug treatments for anxiety and insomnia with suitable training and provision of staff • Educate doctors and health care workers about potential dangers of new drugs (e.g. Z drugs and others)

  16. SOME STEPS NEEDED TO REDUCE BENZODIAZEPINE PRESCRIBING (2) Long-term patients (already dependent) • Educate doctors and health care workers in withdrawal methods • Financial aid for patient support groups and dedicated withdrawal clinics General measures • Research into long-term effects of benzodiazepines • Greater openness about results of drug-company sponsored clinical trials • Keep up pressure on government health authorities and the public

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