Benzodiazepines are prescribed for short-term relief of severe and disabling anxiety.

Benzodiazepines enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid ( GABA-A ), resulting in sedative, hypnotic ( sleep-inducing ), anxiolytic ( anti-anxiety ), anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties ; also seen in the applied pharmacology of high doses of many shorter-acting benzodiazepines are amnesic-dissociative actions.

Benzodiazepines are categorized as either short -, intermediate-or long-acting.

Benzodiazepines are commonly misused and taken in combination with other drugs of abuse.

Benzodiazepines possess sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant, and amnesic actions, which are useful in a variety of indications such as alcohol dependence, seizures, anxiety, panic, agitation and insomnia.

Benzodiazepines are usually administered orally ; however, very occasionally lorazepam or diazepam may be given intravenously for the treatment of panic attacks.

Benzodiazepines are the preferred choice in the management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, in particular, for the prevention and treatment of the dangerous complication of seizures and in subduing severe delirium.

Benzodiazepines are often prescribed for a wide range of conditions:

* Benzodiazepines are effective as medication given a couple of hours before surgery to relieve anxiety.

* Benzodiazepines are well known for their strong muscle-relaxing properties and can be useful in the treatment of muscle spasms, although tolerance often develops to their muscle relaxant effects.

* Benzodiazepines are also used to treat the acute panic caused by hallucinogen intoxication.

Benzodiazepines are also used to calm the acutely agitated individual and can, if required, be given via an intramuscular injection.

* Benzodiazepines are sometimes used for obsessive compulsive disorder, although they are generally believed to be ineffective for this indication ; effectiveness was, however, found in one small study.

Benzodiazepines are sometimes prescribed to treat behavioral symptoms of dementia.

Benzodiazepines share a similar chemical structure, and their effects in humans are mainly produced by the allosteric modification of a specific kind of neurotransmitter receptor, the GABA < sub > A </ sub > receptor, which increases the conductance of this inhibitory channel ; this results in the various therapeutic effects as well as adverse effects of benzodiazepines.

Benzodiazepines are the first line of treatment, and high doses are often required.

Benzodiazepines are the most well-known and most frequently-prescribed hypnotic medications, although their use in recent years is being increasingly replaced by newer nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic drugs and the hormone melatonin.

Benzodiazepines are effective in the short term but tolerance to their hypnotic effects develops after 1 or 2 weeks, thus making them ineffective for long-term use.

Benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam, are the drugs of choice to control agitation and seizures ( when present ).

Benzodiazepines are often used to reduce anxiety symptoms, muscle tension, seizure disorders, insomnia, symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, and panic attack symptoms.

Benzodiazepines are still among the most widely prescribed sedative-hypnotics in the United States today.

Benzodiazepines such as Ativan and Klonopin are effective adjunctive treatment agents for reducing irritability and anxiety during acute mania, and sometimes during maintenance medication therapy, but long-term use can result in dependency.

* Suicidality: Benzodiazepines may sometimes unmask suicidal ideation in depressed patients, possibly through disinhibition or fear reduction.

Benzodiazepines can sometimes cause a paradoxical worsening of EEG readings in patients with seizure disorders.

Benzodiazepines may be used to control agitation.

Benzodiazepines can be used for some of the physical problems such as anxiety.

Benzodiazepines are drugs used to treat anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, and several other conditions.

Benzodiazepines ( or " benzos ") are fast-acting hypnotic sedatives that are also used to treat GAD and other anxiety disorders.

Benzodiazepines can be used for sedation before or after surgery and can be used to induce and maintain general anesthesia.

Benzodiazepines are also used for sedation during procedures that do not require general anesthesia.

Benzodiazepines are used initially to control convulsions, with stronger anticonvulsants such as phenytoin or thiopental used if convulsions continue.

Benzodiazepines and any other form of mind or mood altering addictive drug should not be used on patients with addictive history.

Benzodiazepines require special precaution if used in the alcohol or drug dependent individuals and individuals with comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Benzodiazepines such as midazolam are more commonly used due largely to a lack of a marketing effort by the pharmaceutical companies.

Benzodiazepines require special precaution if used in the elderly, during pregnancy, in children, alcohol-or drug-dependent individuals and individuals with comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Benzodiazepines require special precaution if used in the elderly, during pregnancy, in children, alcohol-or drug-dependent individuals and individuals with comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Benzodiazepines require special precaution if used in the elderly, during pregnancy, in children, alcohol or drug-dependent individuals and individuals with comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Benzodiazepines require special precaution if used in the elderly, during pregnancy, in children, alcohol or drug-dependent individuals and individuals with comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Benzodiazepines may be used for insomnia, although it's very important to note that benzodiazepine withdrawal is known to be severe and long-lived.

Benzodiazepines can be useful for short-term treatment of insomnia.

Benzodiazepines can be considered as a treatment option in treatment resistant cases.

Benzodiazepines can be given to curb the patient's agitation, and supportive care with oxygen, hydration, and symptomatic treatment is often provided.

Benzodiazepines may be useful in acute treatment of severe symptoms but the risk benefit ratio is against their long-term use in phobic disorders.

Benzodiazepines have widely supplanted barbiturates for treatment of almost all conditions in developed countries due to a much greater therapeutic ratio and less proclivity for overdose and toxicity.

Benzodiazepines are therefore not good hypnotics in the treatment of insomnia.