Benzodiazepines Proven Effective For Alcohol Withdrawl
While we all know that alcohol intoxication can cause people to do some pretty bizarre things, such as jumping from balconies to dancing wildly, when in fact alcohol actually has a depressant effect on the neurons in the brain. This means that neurons are less likely to “fire” and overall brain activity is decreased. A problem arises when a person v to withdrawal from alcohol such that the neurons which have been suppressed go into overdrive and start to fire more than they normally would, resulting in increased brain activity. This increased brain activity, seen during alcohol withdrawal, may even lead to seizures and hallucinations.
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Benzodiazepines have a similar effect on the brain in that they induce depression of the nervous system similar to alcohol, as these substances are both known as depressants. Currently, benzodiazepines are the first line medication for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which may include rapid heart rate, confusion, hallucinations, as well as seizures and the more serious delirium tremens. Studies, such as one completed at the University of Ioannina School of Medicine, show that benzodiazepines are more effective than placebo in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. However, benzodiazepines are not without their own risks, one of which is addiction.
Benzodiazepines, such as valium, have been used for decades for the treatment of disorders such as anxiety and insomnia. However, when used for extended amounts of time, patients often become addicted to this class of medications. New research indicates that benzodiazepine trigger the same dopamine reward system that cocaine affects to produce a strong addictive effect. Eventually researchers may search for an alternative to benzodiazepines in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms and delirium tremens. Currently, benzodiazepines are used in emergency rooms and detoxification centers nationwide to treat alcohol withdraw patients. However, as patients in detoxification are weaned from alcohol, some researchers worry that they be trading one powerfully addictive drug for another, as alcohol is known to affect the same dopamine reward system that benzodiazepines act on.
As the addictive potential of benzodiazepines is more thoroughly researched, physicians might become less likely to prescribe these medications to patients with anxiety and insomnia as SSRIS, or selective serotonin inhibitors, are a reasonable alternative to benzodiazepines for many of the psychiatric conditions that benzodiazepines are currently prescribed for.