Benzodiazepines, colloquially known as "benzos", are a class of central nervous system (CNS) depressant drugs whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring. They are prescribed to treat conditions such as anxiety disorders, insomnia, and seizures. The first benzodiazepine, chlordiazepoxide (Librium), was discovered accidentally by Leo Sternbach in 1955, and was made available in 1960 by Hoffmann–La Roche, which followed up by developing diazepam (Valium) in 1963. By 1977, benzodiazepines were the most prescribed medications globally. The introduction of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), among other factors, decreased rates of BZD prescription, but they remain frequently used worldwide.
Benzodiazépines molecular structure diagram from the DrugsPRO substance library.
Classification
Chemical: Benzodiazepine
Psychoactive: Depressant
Effects
Sedation
Motor Impairment
Muscle Relaxation
Reduced Anxiety
Anxiety Suppression
Amnesia
Dulled Perception
Routes of Administration
No route information available yet.
Harm Reduction
Check interactions before mixing substances, pay attention to dose spacing and hydration, and treat all dosage guidance as approximate rather than guaranteed safe.
Sources
Substance data is aggregated from the following public harm-reduction and reference sources.
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Benzodiazepine - Guide des substances DrugsPRO
Benzodiazepine: Benzodiazepines, colloquially known as "benzos", are a class of central nervous system (CNS) depressant drugs whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring. They are prescribed to treat conditions such as anxiety disorders, insomnia, and seizures.
