Let’s face truth. They work. If they didn’t, there would be millions of people who don’t use them on a regular basis. These medications would not be effective in coping with acute, short-term crisis situations. But they are loved by millions, and they actually work. That begs the next question. Why not question their usage? The simple answer is “
They are addictive.
They can also be deadly.
These can make you sick!
Benzos, or Benzos, are the popular name for the 1960’s wonder drug. They were prescribed for anxiety, but also for drug withdrawal, alcohol addiction, depression, schizophrenia, calming psychosis, and sleeping disorders. Librium was the first drug to be developed. These drugs were so commonly prescribed that Valium got the bizarre nickname, “Mother’s Little helper”. If you don’t believe me, “Mothers Little Helper” is the right name! Believe that you must. Doctors thought that prescribing these drugs was a good thing for their patients. It took a decade for warning signs to begin to emerge. Benzos were initially believed to be safe. However, they weren’t aware of the dangers of addiction. Benzos quickly rose in popularity and were now one of America’s most common prescription drugs.
In the 1980s, Xanax became a new sensation drug and a second benzo craze emerged. Xanax quickly became a best-seller and it continues to be. Xanax has a shorter half-life and is therefore the most hazardous of all benzodiazepines. This refers to how long it takes to get the drug’s blood level to peak after one dosage. A shorter half life means that a drug will take effect faster and feel more intensely. This is indicative of a very high potential for abuse.
So how do they work? Many different neurotransmitters can be found in the human brain. These neurotransmitters allow brain cells to exchange messages and can have tranquilizing or exitatory effects.
If someone feels anxious, their brains become hyperactive and excited. Brain cells receive messages from tranquilizing transmitters, which quickly slow down brain activity and reduce anxiety symptoms. GABA, a tranquilizing brain neurotransmitter, is used by billions upon billions of brain neurons to send its messages. Benzodiazepines can enhance the neurotransmitter GABA. The drugs are made up of chemicals that increase the amount of GABA that the brain produces. The body cannot calm itself and produces too little GABA. The withdrawal symptoms will begin.
Between 1996 to 2013, the U.S.’s percentage of benzo-using people jumped more that one-third, from an already impressive 4.1 to 5.6%. Benzo use is extremely high among the elderly, who are the most susceptible to be hurt by them. This is particularly concerning. A prescription is twice as likely to be given to women than it is to men.
One of the most amazing things about benzos is the fact that one can count all the psychiatric warnings. All valid indications for taking benzos are very short-term. In reality, however, many people use these drugs for a long time, with high doses enough to make them addictive, and for all the wrong purposes.
Popularity in Benzo results from their ability reduce anxiety, anxiety reduction, anxiety relaxation, and treatment of social anxiety and fear of social speaking. Doctors love prescribing them. It gives patients what it wants and gets them out the door quickly.
There are 3 ways that Benzo can do harm. Overdoses are the first. They are responsible in excess of 30% of all overdose-related deaths. They can be combined with opioid and other alcohol overdoses. The second is the potentially fatal withdrawal process. Benzo withdrawal can lead to seizures. This is in contrast to opioid withdrawal which is unpleasant but doesn’t cause death. It lasts for longer and is often more painful and miserable. The third side effect is that it alters motor skills. It also causes falls, accidents and dementia-like symptoms. You may also experience drowsiness or confusion from benzodiazepines. These side effects include blurred visions, blurred sight, weakness and slurred speech. Chronic use of these drugs can lead to anorexia (insomnia), headaches, weakness, anxiety, and even depression.
Benzo’s were prescribed to improve a person’s quality of life. But almost always, it does the exact opposite. With so many lives being lost, one would think that the government would take action like it did with the opioid epidemic. Yet, our government continues to ignore the benzodiazepine shortage.
What then, is CBD Oil?
CBD is one out of over 100 chemical components found in the cannabis plants. This plant produces both marijuana or industrial hemp. CBD is very closely related to THC. This is what produces the “high.” in marijuana. CBD does nothing to make you feel “high”. CBD is a CBD-derived product. It legally cannot contain more that 0.3 percent THC. No matter how many you consume, CBD will not make you high.
