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Miscellaneous
Benzodiazepines |
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Rohypnol
(Date Rape Drug) |
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| Synonyms for
Benzodiazepines in General: Sleeping Pills, Tranquilizers |
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| Street Names for
Benzodiazepines in General: Downers, Nerve Pills, Tranks |
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| Drug Classes, Trade
Names, and Street Names for Individual Benzodiazepines: See
table below. |
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| Description:
The benzodiazepines are central
nervous system (CNS) depressants commonly prescribed for the
short-term treatment of anxiety and insomnia. Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
was the first benzodiazepine produced. Diazepam (Valium) was
the next to be developed and until the early 1980's this was the
most widely prescribed tranquillizer in the world. Today, newer
benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan)
account for most tranquillizer prescriptions. |
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| The widespread
availability of benzodiazepines has made them common as drugs of
abuse. Long-term users typically develop a tolerance to the drugs,
requiring larger doses to achieve the desired effects. A
psychological and/or physical dependence can develop, making it
difficult to discontinue use. Some drug abusers take benzodiazepines
to bring them down after using stimulants such as ecstasy or
cocaine. Others take them to enhance the effects of alcohol. They are
also commonly used as replacement drugs when a user's drug of
first choice is not available. During the early 1990's, Rohypnol
(flunitrazepam) became notorious as the date rape drug.
Rohypnol is 7 to 10 times more potent than valium and initial effects appear within 15 to 30 minutes of consumption.
These factors are responsible for Rohyphnol's use
as a date rape drug. Though never legal in the United States,
Rohypnol became
readily available in the black market from sources in Mexico, Latin
America, and Europe. In 1996, the U.S. Treasury Department banned
all Rohypnol prescriptions from entering the country. Since then,
Rohypnol use in the United States has declined. |
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| Excretion:
Excretion patterns
differ greatly among the benzodiazepines. |
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| Note:
Below list is not all-inclusive. Some trade names may no
longer be in production. |
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Benzodiazepine
Examples |
Drug
Class |
Trade
Names |
Street
Names |
| Alprazolam |
Antipanic
Agent, Antitremor
Agent, Anxiolytic, CNS
Depressant, Sedative-hypnotic |
Alprazolam
Intensol,
Alti-Alprazolam,
Apo-Alpraz,
Gen-Alprazolam,
Novo-Alprazol, Nu-Alpraz,
Xanax |
Xanies |
| Bromazepam |
Anxiolytic,
CNS Depressant,
Sedative-hypnotic |
Alti-Bromazepam,
Gen-Bromazepam |
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| Chlordiazepoxide |
Antipanic
Agent, Antitremor
Agent, Anxiolytic, CNS
Depressant, Sedative-hypnotic |
Apo-Chlordiazepoxide,
Lectopam, Librium,
Lipoxide, Novo-Poxide |
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| Clobazam |
Anticonvulsant,
CNS Depressant |
Frisium |
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| Clonazepam |
Antipanic
Agent, CNS
Depressant, Sedative-hypnotic |
Alti-Clonazepam,
Apo-Clonazepam,
Clonapam, Klonopin,
PMS-Clonazepam, Rivotril |
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| Clorazepate |
Anticonvulsant,
Anxiolytic, CNS
Depressant, Sedative-hypnotic |
Tranxene-SD,
Tranxene
T-Tab |
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| Delorazepam |
Anxiolytic,
CNS Depressant |
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| Diazepam |
Amnestic,
Anticonvulsant,
Antipanic Agent, Antitremor
Agent, Anxiolytic, CNS
Depressant, Sedative-hypnotic |
Apo-Diazepam,
Diastat,
Diazemuls, Diazepam
Intensol, Dizac,
Novo-Dipam,
PMS-Diazepam,
Valium, Vivol |
Vals |
| Estazolam |
CNS
Depressant,
Sedative-hypnotic |
ProSom |
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| Flunitrazepam |
CNS
Depressant,
Sedative-hypnotic |
Rohypnol |
Date
Rape Drug,
Mexican Valium,
Roofies, Ruphies |
| Flurazepam |
CNS
Depressant,
Sedative-hypnotic |
Apo-Flurazepam,
Dalmane, Novo-Flupam,
Somnol |
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| Lorazepam |
Amnestic,
Anticonvulsant,
Antiemetic, Antipanic Agent,
Antitremor Agent, Anxiolytic,
CNS
Depressant, Sedative-hypnotic |
Ativan,
Apo-Lorazepam,
Lorazepam Intensol,
Novo-Lorazem, Nu-Loraz |
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| Lormetazepam |
CNS
Depressant,
Sedative-hypnotic |
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| Medazepam |
Anxiolytic,
CNS Depressant |
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| Nitrazepam |
Anticonvulsant,
CNS Depressant,
Sedative-hypnotic |
Mogadon |
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| Nordiazepam |
Anxiolytic,
CNS Depressant |
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| Oxazepam |
Anxiolytic,
CNS Depressant,
Sedative-hypnotic |
Apo-Oxazepam,
Novoxapam, Serax |
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| Prazepam |
Anxiolytic,
CNS Depressant,
Sedative-hypnotic |
Centrax |
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| Temazepam |
CNS
Depressant,
Sedative-hypnotic |
Apo-Temazepam,
Novo-Temazepam,
Restoril |
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| Triazolam |
CNS
Depressant,
Sedative-hypnotic |
Alti-Triazolam,
Apo-Triazo,
Gen-Triazolam, Halcion,
Novo-Triolam |
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| Benzodiazepines -
Oral. HealthCentral. 07 Sept.
2001 <http://www.healthcentral.com/mhc/top/001811.cfm>. |
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| Benzodiazepines
(Systemic). WebMD. 07 Sept.
2001 <http://my.webmd.com/content/article/3185.194>. |
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Beyond the ABC's
Information for Professionals - Tranquilizers and Sleeping Pills.
Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission. 07 Sept. 2001 <http://www.nadc.gov.ab.ca/aadac/addictions/beyond/beyond_tranquillizers_
sleepingpills.htm>. |
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| Drug Information
- Tranquillisers. The Centre for Recovery. 07 Sept.
2001 <http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/terrace/gjl37/druginfo/tranquil.html>. |
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| Drug Photos from
the IPRC Website. Indiana Prevention Resource Center.
07 Sept. 2001 <http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/prevention/iprcpics.html>. |
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| Rohypnol
Information Sheet. Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault. 07 Sept.
2001 <http://www.wcasa.org/html/rohypnol.html>. |
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| Stafford, Tracy. Questions
About Rohypnol. Florida House District 92. 07 Sept. 2001
<http://www.state.fl.us/legislature/stafford/roh.html>. |
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