Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines belong to a class of substances with characteristic bicyclic organic compounds that are often used in medicine as sedatives or sleeping pills. Their effect is based on the strengthening of so-called inhibitory neurotransmitters. However, frequent use of benzodiazepines can lead to dependency relationships.

What are Benzodiazepines?

All Benzodiazepines have a bicyclic basic structure consisting of a seven-membered unsaturated ring to which a benzene ring is fused.

The unsaturated seven-membered ring contains two nitrogen atoms. Some representatives of these compounds are of great importance as medicinal products. All benzodiazepine-based drugs have a further benzene ring attached to the 5-position to the unsaturated ring and are referred to as 1H-benzo-1,4-diazepines according to chemical nomenclature. The individual 1H-benzo-1,4-diazepines often have a calming effect and are therefore often used as tranquilizers or sleep-promoting agents.

Depending on the other functional groups, there is a relatively large number of drugs in this class of substances. All benzodiazepines have a depressant effect on the nervous system. However, they differ in the duration and intensity of the effect. This is determined by the half-life, i.e. the breakdown time of the individual substances in the body.

Pharmacological effect

Benzodiazepines do not act directly, but they intensify the effect of GABA (gamma-amino-butyric acid) by influencing the GABA receptors. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that, bound to the receptor, inhibits nerve excitation through the increased influx of chloride ions into the nerve cells.

This inhibitory or inhibitory influence leads to a general calming of the nerve functions. The benzodiazepines change the GABA receptors so that they can be used e.g. B. GABA can bind better and thus increase its effectiveness. The duration of the effectiveness is of course dependent on the half-life of the corresponding benzodiazepine. In general, the benzodiazepines have an anxiety-relieving, relaxing, anti-aggressive effect and promote sleep. Depending on the substance used, one or the other effect is dominant.

A high dose or sensitivity to benzodiazepines may also cause tiredness, drowsiness, depression, or headache. Many benzodiazepine-based drugs have been developed with different patterns of action in order to cover the broadest possible range of applications with few side effects. Two parameters are decisive for the use of benzodiazepines, the onset of action and the duration of action.

Medical application & use

The mode of action as a modulator for the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA opens up the substance class of Benzodiazepines a large area of ​​application. The benzodiazepines are often used for anxiety disorders, states of restlessness, sleep disorders, states of excitement, muscle tension or epilepsy.

Benzodiazepines have also proven their worth in schizophrenia and alcohol withdrawal. Benzodiazepines are also available for general use as sedatives and sleeping pills. Benzodiazepines are the most commonly used sedatives or sleeping pills. In Germany, up to 17 percent of the population take benzodiazepine preparations every year. Choosing the right remedy will depend on the underlying disorder. The relationship between onset of action and time of action influences certain side effects.

This is how you want to achieve a quick effect on sleep disorders. However, the action time should not be too long to avoid tiredness and drowsiness after sleep. If you have trouble sleeping through the night, active ingredients with a medium action time are appropriate. However, if anxiety disorders, epilepsy or muscle tension are to be treated, active ingredients with a long duration of action are desirable.

Benzodiazepines are also often used to relieve anxiety before operations or diagnostic procedures such as gastroscopy or colonoscopy. All benzodiazepine-based drugs require a prescription and are usually administered in tablet form.

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Risks & side effects

Benzodiazepines but also have significant side effects if they are used too long or too intensively. With high concentrations of benzodiazepines it can lead to memory, perception and reaction disorders. Headaches and drowsiness have also been reported. Treatment with benzodiazepines for too long often leads to habituation effects and tolerance development.

Therefore, there is a risk of drug addiction. After long-term use, stopping the medication quickly can lead to mental disorders and even the risk of suicide. For these reasons, treatment with benzodiazepines should not be exaggerated.

Taking benzodiazepines at the same time as alcohol or barbiturates is particularly dangerous and often causes acute and long-term aggravation of mental illness.