Benzodiazepines: a list of over-the-counter drugs

Benzodiazepines - a group of medications with sedative propertiesused for patients with neurological disorders. The list of drugs includes drugs that affect the central nervous system, help to stop symptoms in the acute period of the disease. It is difficult to obtain such medicines without a prescription, only some tablets or capsules are freely dispensed, but usually they have a different composition and mechanism of action.

Mechanism of action of benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepine derivatives are also called benzodiazepine tranquilizers by specialists. The mechanism of their action is not fully understood today, but experts in research have found out that in the head the human brain has special benzodiazepine receptors that respond to medication of this groups.

Doctors suggest that drugs in this group block receptors, and also affect certain centers in the brain that are responsible for increased activity, anxiety, and many others reactions. As a result of their effect, a hypnotic and sedative effect is achieved, the severity of which depends on the specific drug and dosage.

Other properties of the drugs are also noted:

• Medicines eliminate anxiety and causeless anxiety in patients with neurological and mental disorders.
• They stop the symptoms of pathologies in the acute stage, preventing the progression and the appearance of complications.
• Suppress some of the centers in the brain responsible for the development of panic attacks. Taking medications helps to significantly reduce the frequency of manifestations of such abnormalities.
• Medicines relieve neurological pain, which often bother patients with pathologies of the central and peripheral nervous system.
• Increases the nervous system's resistance to stress. Prophylactic medication for patients with a tendency to psychoemotional disorders prevents complications against the background of emotional stress.

The drugs work quickly. The antidepressant effect when used is weak, but the condition of the patients improves somewhat, especially in the case of combined treatment.

Benzodiazepines (over-the-counter drugs include drugs with sedative and hypnotic properties) may have slightly different properties, since there are subgroups of funds that have a certain effect on different parts of the nervous systems. Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic characteristics of drugs depend on the duration of use and dosage, the body's response to the substances of the composition.

Usually, medicines are used for a long time, but it is possible to use them in short courses if the symptoms of the pathology are expressed in a mild form.

Indications for appointment

Drugs from the benzodiazepine group are prescribed for various disorders of the nervous system and mental abnormalities.

Main indications for use:

• Nervous disorders in patients with neurological diseases. With anxiety, unreasonable fear, and other abnormalities, the remedies help to stop the symptoms.
• Insomnia associated with neurological disorders.
• Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, accompanied by muscle cramps, severe pain.
• Mental illness in the acute and subacute stages. Medicines are included in the main course of treatment to increase effectiveness.
• Neuralgia and neuritis at different stages of development.
• Rheumatic pains. Sometimes medicines are used for such violations, when the effectiveness of other drugs is weak or absent.
• Epilepsy at various stages of development. Many drugs of the group can be prescribed as the only method of treatment, as they are highly effective.
• Withdrawal symptoms in patients with chronic alcoholism. Medicines are included in the course of treatment to quickly eliminate symptoms.
• Obsessive compulsions arising in patients with neurological and mental disorders.
• Irritability, decreased mental performance as a result of psychoemotional disorders.

The drugs improve not only the state of the nervous system, but also have a positive effect on the functioning of the musculoskeletal system in patients with muscle diseases neurological origin.

Contraindications

Benzodiazepines are considered potent drugs and are difficult to obtain over the counter. The list of over-the-counter drugs usually includes drugs with a different composition.

Medicines have many contraindications that should be considered when prescribing:

• Intolerance to any component of a particular medication.
• Muscle pathologies, accompanied by a constant decrease in muscle fiber tone and weakness in the limbs.
• Disruption of the bone marrow, accompanied by a deterioration in the formation of blood cells.
• Atrioventricular block, severe heart pathologies.
• An uncontrolled form of arterial hypertension, accompanied by the frequent development of a hypertensive crisis.
• Decompensated form of heart failure, accompanied by fluctuations in blood pressure.
• Acute cardiogenic shock.
• Acute cerebrovascular accident. The drugs can be used after the elimination of acute symptoms as an auxiliary method of therapy.
• Acute diseases of the digestive tract.
• Internal bleeding as a result of damage to the walls of the stomach and intestines.
• The recovery period after undergoing surgery on the abdominal organs.
• Severe traumatic brain injury.

Certain medications may have contraindications that are not in the general list, so it is important to study the description for a specific medication before starting therapy.

Classification

Medicines from the benzodiazepine group can have different effects on the patient's body, so doctors distinguish 3 subgroups. Depending on the disease and its severity, patients are selected the most effective medication.

With anti-anxiety action

Benzodiazepines (a list of over-the-counter drugs usually sought by patients who use them for non-medical purposes) with anti-anxiety properties are prescribed to patients with various psychoemotional disorders, insomnia, anxiety.

Such drugs do not have a pronounced hypnotic effect, do not suppress many centers in the brain, which allows them to be used in the daytime if necessary. The main action of medications is aimed at eliminating anxiety.

Means of this subgroup can be dispensed freely or by prescription from a doctor, which depends on the active substance in their composition.

With a hypnotic effect

Drugs with a hypnotic effect act on the centers in the brain, suppress their activity, which leads to the normalization of sleep. Medicines are needed for patients who not only suffer from mental and neurological disorders, but also note sleep disturbance against the background of their progression.

Means of this subgroup are considered potent, are dispensed mainly by prescription, since they contain substances that are dangerous to patients when used alone.

With anticonvulsant action

Medicines with anticonvulsant properties contain substances that suppress the activity of the centers in the brain that are responsible for conducting nerve impulses to muscles and their contraction.

Medicines are prescribed in most cases to patients who suffer from epilepsy of varying severity. But for anxiety disorders, panic attacks and some other diseases, they can be used as directed by a doctor.

Abuse and non-medical use

Often, patients abuse benzodiazepine medications, take them not as prescribed by a doctor, and independently extend the therapeutic course. Some of the drugs in the group are addictive if used inappropriately, in higher doses, and over a long period of time.

Many drug addicts take medication for a non-medical purpose, that is, as a substitute for narcotic drugs. This is due to the fact that taking drugs in high doses leads to the development of a hallucinogenic effect and other reactions arising from oral use or intravenous administration of narcotic compositions. Such an application leads to serious consequences, addiction, it is rather difficult to be treated and requires the patient to be admitted to a hospital.

Side effects and overdose

Benzodiazepines (a list of over-the-counter drugs is selected by a doctor when, for various reasons, may use prescription medications) often lead to complications, even when all recommendations are followed doctor. This is due to the presence in their composition of potent ingredients that affect the nervous system.

Damage area	Frequent negative reactions
Nervous system	On the part of the nervous system, disorders are manifested most often, accompanied by headaches, dizziness, and sleep disturbances. Despite the hypnotic effect of many drugs, it is not uncommon for patients to develop the opposite effect. If the instructions are violated, the work of the brain may deteriorate in patients, complications from the visual and auditory apparatus appear.
Respiratory system	The respiratory system suffers frequently during therapy, especially in the case of a history of chronic diseases. Treatment can lead to coughing, shortness of breath on exertion, suffocation.
Digestive tract	Digestive disorders manifest as diarrhea or persistent constipation, depending on the individual patient. Many people report poor digestion, nausea, and lack of appetite. Intense thirst is accompanied by dryness of the mucous membranes of the mouth. If the patient is worried about diarrhea and vomiting for a long period of time, additional complications in the form of dehydration of the body as a result of the loss of a large amount of fluid with vomit and feces masses.
The cardiovascular system	On the part of the cardiovascular system, disorders do not occur so often, but patients with chronic diseases can mark fluctuations in blood pressure indicators, tachycardia and heart failure rhythm.
Urinary organs	Disorders of the urinary organs are accompanied by pain in the kidney area, increased urination. If there are chronic diseases in the anamnesis, the symptoms are expressed in an acute form.
Leather	Allergy with the use of drugs in this group does not develop so often, mainly in patients with a tendency to such reactions. At the same time, the symptomatology is classic, that is, rashes appear on the skin, itching, burning sensation joins a little later. Combing the affected areas only worsens the condition, leads to damage to the skin and the addition of other complications.

Adverse reactions are not always considered a reason for refusing therapy. Sometimes they disappear on their own after a few days. Only a doctor can decide to continue the course or discontinue use.

An overdose during treatment can develop in the case of the simultaneous use of a large number of tablets. At the same time, all negative reactions are aggravated in patients, nausea, vomiting, and severe headache join.

A dangerous manifestation of an overdose is impaired consciousness and hallucinations. In the event of such violations, you must immediately stop using the medication and consult a doctor. Overdose treatment is carried out in a hospital. Prescribing drugs for parenteral administration is often required.

Withdrawal symptoms

Benzodiazepines (the list of over-the-counter drugs usually includes drugs with less pronounced properties and having a different composition), with prolonged use, can provoke addiction. That is, after discontinuation of treatment, patients may experience symptoms resembling withdrawal symptoms that develop after refusing alcohol or drugs.

At the same time, the patient's condition is rather serious, there is pain in the area of ​​staves and muscles, convulsions. There is repeated vomiting during the day, fluctuations in body temperature and blood pressure. Patients speak of severe weakness, impaired coordination of movements. To prevent the development of withdrawal symptoms, many medications are withdrawn gradually, reducing the daily rate over several days or weeks. This facilitates the condition of the sick.

Clinical trial data

To date, there are not many studies on the effect of benzodiazepines on the body of patients. The result of experiments on different groups of patients confirms the effectiveness of drugs, provided that they are used correctly.

Experts in studies have confirmed the effectiveness of the drug in panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorders, social anxiety disorders. Despite this, studies have also confirmed that drugs more often than many drugs from other groups provoke complications from the nervous system.

Research also shows that phasing out or using drugs to relieve it can help avoid the development of withdrawal symptoms. Addiction to drugs develops in more than 15% of patients receiving treatment for a long time, which is considered a disadvantage of this group of drugs.

List of benzodiazepines, prices

Today, in pharmacies, you can buy funds at different prices, in different forms. There are many more prescription drugs than drugs that are freely available.

On prescription

Prescription medicines can be found at different pharmacies. After visiting a neurologist, psychiatrist or other narrow specialist, the patient receives a prescription and purchases a medicine.

Most popular prescription products:

• Finlepsin can be purchased for about 200-290 rubles.
• Carbamazepine costs about 60-150 rubles. depending on the size of the package.
• Chlosepide costs about 300-450 rubles.
• Sibazon costs from 130 to 200 rubles. per packing.
• Phenazepam in different pharmacies costs from 230 to 400 rubles.
• Gidazepam can be purchased for 150-300 rubles.

The cost of drugs depends on the number of them in the package, the form of release and the region of distribution.

Over the counter

Most benzodiazepines cannot be purchased without a prescription form, but doctors may recommend drugs that have similar properties despite a different composition.

Most often, patients are shown the following medications:

• Afobazol costs about 360 rubles, has pronounced properties.
• Amisil can be purchased for 200-500 rubles. depending on the amount of medicine in the package.
• Buspirone costs about 950 rubles.
• Phenibut has similar properties and costs about 130 rubles.

Potent benzodiazepine drugs cannot be purchased freely, which is considered an advantage, since the likelihood of developing complications when used alone is significantly reduced.

Benzodiazepines are a large group of medicines that are often used for mental and neurological disorders. The drug list includes many products that cannot be obtained without a prescription. On drugstore shelves, you can find medicines that have similar properties, but are sold freely.

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