THE MOST COMMONLY prescribed minor tranquillisers and sleeping pills are as follows (the brand name is in brackets):
BENZODIAZEPINE MINOR TRANQUILLISERS
DIAZEPAM (VALIUM)
LORAZEPAM (ATIVAN)
CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE (LIBRIUM)
OXAZEPAM (OXAZEPAM)
ALPRAZOLAM (XANAX)
BENZODIAZEPINE SLEEPING PILLS
NITRAZEPAM (MOGADON)
TEMAZEPAM (TEMAZEPAM)
CLONAZEPAM (RIVOTRIL)
NON-BENZODIAZEPINE SLEEPING PILLS
ZOPLICLONE (ZIMOVANE)
ZOLPIDEM (STILNOCOT)
ZALEPLON (SONATA)
There
has been a big increase over the past 10 years in the prescribing of the
newer non-benzodiazepine sleeping pills.� The newer drugs can cause
side effects and withdrawal symptoms that are every bit as bad as those
caused by the benzodiazepines.
WHAT EFFECT DO THEY HAVE?
They
can be effective drugs in the short term (2-4 weeks).� However, they
can also be highly addictive and withdrawal symptoms can lead to
breakdown and temporary mental illness.
Effects of medium and
long term benzodiazepine use include agoraphobia, panic attacks,
anxiety, confusion, depression, poor quality of life and physical
health.
Abrupt or too rapid withdrawal can result in major
convulsions which can be life threatening.� Other severe withdrawal
effects include acute psychotic reactions and hallucinations,
delusions, paranoia and acute confusion states.
Major depressive
disorders and even suicide attempts may follow too abrupt withdrawal
after an interval.� Recovery after complete withdrawal from
benzodiazepines may take months or even years to complete.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEM?
In
2007 community pharmacists dispensed nearly 11.5 million prescriptions
for benzodiazepines.� It has been estimated that there are around 1
million chronic users in England and Wales (i.e. people taking the
drugs for 4 moths or more).
WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL LINE?
The
Committee on Safety of Medicines issued advice to all prescribing
doctors in 1988, stating that benzodiazepines were indicated only in
the very short term (2-4 weeks) and ONLY for disabling anxiety and
insomnia.
Despite this, some doctors are still prescribing
benzodiazepines to new patients for indefinite periods.� Nationally
little has been done to reduce the huge numbers of people addicted,
although particular efforts have been made in some areas (e.g. Bristol).