Benzodiazapines (Depressants)
What Is It?
Medications that slow brain activity, which makes them useful for treating anxiety and sleep problems
Alternate Names
Barbiturates: pentobarbital (Nembutal®)
Benzodiazepines: alprazolam (Xanax®), chlorodiazepoxide (Librium®), diazepam (Valium®), lorazepam (Ativan®), triazolam (Halicon®)
Sleep Medications: eszopiclone (Lunesta®), zaleplon (Sonata®), zolpidem (Ambien®)
Legality
These drugs can only be legally purchased with a prescription.
Common Forms
Taken in pill capsule or liquid form
Common Ways Taken
Swallowed, injected or snorted.
Short Term Effects
Drowsiness, slurred speech, poor concentration, confusion, dizziness, problems with movement and memory, lowered blood pressure, slowed breathing.
Long Term Effects
Unknown.
Other Health-related Issues
Sleep medications are sometimes used as date rape drugs.
Risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles.
When Combined With Alcohol
Further slows heart rate and breathing, which can lead to death.
Additional Information
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Withdrawal Symptoms
Must be discussed with a health care provider; barbiturate withdrawal can cause a serious abstinence syndrome that may even include seizures.
Sources: NIH, National Institute on Drug Abuse. (Collected 2023)