What are benzodiazepines?
Q: What are benzodiazepines?
A: Benzodiazepines are organic chemical substances, made of two carbon rings. Certain benzodiazepines can be used as drugs that increase the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA. The resulting drug has sedative effects.
Q: Who discovered benzodiazepine?
A: Benzodiazepine was discovered accidentally by Leo Sternbach in 1955 and made available in 1960 by the medicine company Hoffmann–La Roche.
Q: Is taking benzodiazepines safe and effective in the long term?
A: In general taking benzodiazepines is safe and effective in the short term, however longer term use is controversial as it may become less effective and problems of dependency may show.
Q: Are benzodiazepines safe to take during pregnancy?
A: Benzodiazepines may not be safe to be taken during pregnancy. They are not teratogens, which cause birth defects, but they may cause cleft palate in a small number of babies.
Q: Can you overdose on benzodiazepines?
A: Yes, one can overdose on benzodiazpiens and it can cause dangerous deep unconsciousness. However, they are much less toxic than the drugs they replaced, the barbiturates. Death rarely results when a benzodiazipien is only drug taken when combined with other central nervous system depressants such as alcohol and opiates, the potential for toxicity increases.
Q: Are benzoazepines commonly misused?
A: Yes, benzoazepines are commonly misused and taken in combination with other drugs of abuse
