Benzodiazepines: Use, Abuse, Withdrawal and Dependence Introduction: Benzodiazepine is considered a drug with a high potential for addiction. Dependence develops with long-term use even at the therapeutic dose. Because benzodiazepines are widely prescribed for various conditions, particularly insomnia and anxiety, therapeutic dose dependence represents the largest category of people dependent on benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are one of the most prescribed medications with potential for abuse. Special attention should be paid to the patient's history of addiction before these agents are prescribed. Understanding the pattern of abuse and alternative anxiolytic and hypnotic agents can help healthcare providers maximize treatment outcomes and reduce medicolegal liability. Mechanism of action Works in the following ways: Benzodiazepine receptors are linked primarily to γ ​​amino butyric acid (GABA) receptors, which sensitize benzodiazepine receptors to the neurotransmitter GABA, the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.• Accentuates l affinity of the recognition site for GABA inducing conformational changes that make GABA binding more effective.• Activation of the ionophore complex benzodiazepine-GABA-chloride is responsible for producing the therapeutic anxiolytic effects of benzodiazepines and mediating many of the side effects and, possibly, dependence and withdrawal from these drugs. Clinical Use Below is the use of benzodiazepines • Amnesia before or after surgery • Anxiety disorders Generalized anxiety disorder Panic disorder Phobias (social, simple) Post-traumatic stress disorder Disorder obsessive-compulsive • Insomnia • Somatoform disorder • Convulsive disorders • Tetanus • Paraplegic...... middle of paper ......ct or side effects . Clonazepam is a high potency benzodiazepine with a long half-life. It is widely prescribed for a variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions. Although clonazepam is perceived as “safe,” addiction medicine specialists have found that it is also often abused as a street drug. On the other hand, oxazepam (Serax), chlorazepate (Tranxene), and chlordiazepoxide appear to have less reinforcing effects than other benzodiazepines. CONCLUSION: Benzodiazepine remains one of the most prescribed agents for a variety of anxiety and sleep disorders. Keeping in mind their highly abusive potential, the doctor must pay particular attention to the patient's addiction and medication history before these agents are prescribed. Proper patient education, regular follow-up and use of alternative therapies can reduce the risk of benzodiazepine dependence..