Benzodiazepine: Abuse & Therapeutic Uses, Pharmacology & Health Effects

Although benzodiazepines are among the most commonly prescribed medications, owing to their roles in multiple areas of therapeutic action as anxiolytics, sedative hypnotics, anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants, they are also highly addictive. Long-term use can lead to dependency, rebound anxiety, memory impairment and withdrawal. In this book, the authors discuss the abuse and therapeutic uses, pharmacology and health effects of benzodiazepine. Topics include the effects of benzodiazepine during prolonged administration and under conditions of stress; anxiolytic-like effect and excessive side actions produced by benzodiazepines in the elderly; risk factors for benzodiazepine dependence in women with major depression or anxiety disorders; flumazenil slow-infusion in the treatment of high dose benzodiazepine dependence; benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome; and encephalopathies related to exogenous or endogenous benzodiazepines.