Benzodiazepines became widely available for medical purposes in the 1960s and replaced barbiturates in treatments of many conditions. Benzodiazepines proved themselves less prone to abuse than barbiturates, in addition to being safer — accidental overdose…

Benzodiazepines comprise the most frequently prescribed subclass of antianxiety agents. These agents, first introduced in the early 1960s, quickly replaced the use of barbiturates as the pharmacological approach to anxiety.

Hundreds of substances have been developed that produce central nervous system (CNS) depression. These drugs have been referred to as downers, sedatives, hypnotics, minor tranquilizers, anxiolytics, and antianxiety medications. Unlike most other classes…

Depressants generally have the opposite effect of stimulants. Many depressants are used as sedatives or tranquilizers, terms often used as if they mean the same thing even though some experts would dispute such interchangeable usage of the terms sedative…

Shortly after their introduction in the 1960s, benzodiazepines emerged as the treatment of choice for those experiencing generalized anxiety, though syndromal generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) would not be identifi ed in the psychiatric nosology for…

The introduction of the benzodiazepines represented a significant advance in the treatment of panic disorder. In contrast to MAOIs and TCAs, the benzodiazepines begin to provide relief the very first day of treatment, and many patients experience a…

Although they have been used for over 30 years, benzodiazepines are still widely prescribed in the treatment of anxiety disorders and other medical conditions. These drugs are classified as sedative-hypnotic agents, which depress or slow down the body.…