Types of Benzodiazepines List and effects

Surely, you have heard about benzodiazepines, but you may not be clear about what they are and what they are used for. These are a type of psychotropic drugs, that is, they act on the central nervous system and has anxiolytic, sedative, anticonvulsive effects (for seizures or epileptic attacks), hypnotics (to induce sleep), amnesis (memory problems) and myorrelajantes (muscle relaxation).

It is quite common that they are prescribed and therefore it is important that we know the classification of benzodiazepines and the different types that exist, a basic list of the most common benzodiazepines and the main effects that can have, primary and secondary.

Continue reading this psychology-online article to discover types of benzodiazepines, their classification and their effects With examples of trademarks and commercial names.

1. Classification of benzodiazepines with examples
2. List of the most common benzodiazepines and their brands
3. Effects of benzodiazepines

Classification of benzodiazepines with examples

The most common classification of benzodiazepines is based on their half -life, that is, depending on the time they are taking effect. In this way, we would have four main groups:

• Benzodiazepines of Life or Long Action. Its effect remains between 40 and 200 hours. Some of those found in this group are Diazepam and the Flurazepam.
• Benzodiazepines of action or intermediate life. Its effect is prolonged from 20 to 40 hours depending on the person and dose. Some examples are the clonazepam, Flunitrazepam and Bromazepam.
• Benzodiazepines of Action or Short Life. In this case, the effect goes from 5 to 20 hours. He Lorazepam, Temazepam and the Oxazepam They are some of the benzodiacinas that would be in this group.
• Benzodiazepines of very short action or life. Your half -life is lower than 5 hours, between 1 and 1.5 hours duration. He Triazolam and the Midazolam They would be in this group.

List of the most common benzodiazepines and their brands

In the previous section we have seen the classification of the types of benzodiazepines according to their half -life. Next, in this list of benzodiazepines with examples, we will relate the most common brands with the main types of benzodiazepines so you can get an idea of ​​what half -life could the one you are taking.

Let's look at 10 examples of benzodiazepines with their names and trademarks.

1. Diazepam. It can be found by: Valium, Pax, Apzepam, Stesolid, Vival, Apozepam, Hexalid, Stedon and Valaxona are some examples of brands and are used as anxiolytic, antiepileptics and muscle relaxants. Here you can see more information about Diazepam.
2. Flurazepam. Examples: dalmadorm, dalmane and fluralma, with a hypnotic effect.
3. Clonazepam. Valpax, Klonopin, Neuryl, Rivotril, Ravotril, Iktorivil, Zatryx, Clonzep, Clonac and Clonatril to obtain an anxiolytic and antiepileptic effect. In this article you will find more information about what it is for and how the clonazepam is taken.
4. Flunitrazepam. It has the following names: Rohypnol, Fluscand, Flunipam and Ronal. They have a hypnotic effect.
5. Lorazepam. Like, for example, sleeping, with a hypnotic effect.
6. Temazepam. Restoral, normist, EUHYPNOS and TENOX with a hypnotic and antiepileptic effect.
7. Oxazepam. Be alerax, serenid, serepax, nephew, oxascand, allopam, oxabenz and oxapax to obtain an anxiolytic effect.
8. Triazolam. This example of benzodiazepine of markets under the names: Halcion, Rilamir, Notison with a hypnotic function.
9. Bromazepam. This type of benzodiazepine is known as the name Share Lexatin.
10. Midazolam. Examples of this type of benzodiazepines: dormicum, seed, hypnovel, sleeping to obtain a hypnotic and antiepileptic effect.

Effects of benzodiazepines

Primary effects

¿What is the mechanism of action of benzodiazepines? As we have commented, they are drugs that They reduce anxiety levels, produce muscle relaxation, facilitate sleep, reduce seizures, among other effects. Therefore, some of the problems for which they are used are:

• Panic states control
• Anxiety reduction
• Insomnia
• Abstinence syndromes
• Epilepsy and epileptic attacks
• Muscle pain
• Muscle relaxant

Side effects

These types of medications have a fairly common use, however, many times its intake would not be necessary and in many occasions this excess of medication is due not to take into account the side effects among which are:

• Dependence: continued consumption of anxiolytics has an addictive effect.
• Tolerance: It means that, after a while, the dose that you took initially will not take effect so you have to increase it, and to itself successively.
• Dizziness, balance problems: By depressing both the nervous system a common side effect are dizziness or loss of balance.
• Drowsiness: It is quite common for people who consume anxiolytics fall asleep during the day and have a lot of dream despite having a good rest.
• Blurry vision.
• Dry mouth.
• Constipation problems since the digestive system slows down.
• Memory problems with prolonged use. This also increases since they can produce concentration problems. In this article we talk about memory problems.

Paradoxical reactions

In some cases, the opposite effects have occurred to those sought after, thus increasing anxiety, melancholy, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, among others, among others.

This article is merely informative, in psychology-online we have no power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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