ben·zo·di·az·e·pine

(bĕn′zō-dī-ăz′ə-pēn′, -pĭn)

Any of a group of chemical compounds with a common molecular structure and similar pharmacological effects, used as antianxiety agents, muscle relaxants, sedatives, hypnotics, and sometimes as anticonvulsants.

[benzo- + diazepine, seven-member ring containing two nitrogens (di- + az(o)- + (h)ep(ta)- + -ine).]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

benzodiazepine

(ˌbɛnzəʊdaɪˈeɪzəˌpiːn)

(Pharmacology) any of a group of chemical compounds that are used as minor tranquillizers, such as diazepam (Valium) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium)

[C20: from benzo- + di-¹ + aza- + ep- + -ine²]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ben•zo•di•az•e•pine

(ˌbɛn zoʊ daɪˈæz əˌpin, -ˈeɪ zə-)

n.

any of a family of minor tranquilizers that act against anxiety and convulsions.

[1930–35; benzo- + di-¹ + az (o)- + -epine ((h)ep(ta)- + -ine ²)]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

benzodiazepine - any of several similar lipophilic amines used as tranquilizers or sedatives or hypnotics or muscle relaxants; chronic use can lead to dependency

alprazolam, Xanax - an antianxiety agent (trade name Xanax) of the benzodiazepine class

chlordiazepoxide, Libritabs, Librium - a tranquilizer (trade names Librium and Libritabs) used in the treatment of alcoholism

diazepam, Valium - a tranquilizer (trade name Valium) used to relieve anxiety and relax muscles; acts by enhancing the inhibitory actions of the neurotransmitter GABA; can also be used as an anticonvulsant drug in cases of nerve agent poisoning

estazolam, ProSom - a frequently prescribed sleeping pill (trade name ProSom)

Ativan, lorazepam - tranquilizer (trade name Ativan) used to treat anxiety and tension and insomnia

midazolam, Versed - an injectable form of benzodiazepine (trade name Versed) useful for sedation and for reducing pain during uncomfortable medical procedures

antianxiety drug, anxiolytic, anxiolytic drug, minor tranquilizer, minor tranquilliser, minor tranquillizer - a tranquilizer used to relieve anxiety and reduce tension and irritability

muscle relaxant - a drug that reduces muscle contractility by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses or by decreasing the excitability of the motor end plate or by other actions

nitrazepam - a hypnotic and sedative drug of the benzodiazepine type

Restoril, temazepam - a frequently prescribed benzodiazepine (trade name Restoril); takes effect slowly and lasts long enough to help those people who wake up frequently during the night

Halcion, triazolam - a form of benzodiazepine (trade name Halcion) frequently prescribed as a sleeping pill; usually given to people who have trouble falling asleep

Translations

benzodiazepine

n benzodiazepina or benzodiacepina

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Summary: Benzodiazepine are psychoactive drugs that are used to treat anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal.

Benzodiazepine Drugs Market Growth Overview and Predictions on Size, Share and Trend Through 2026

But when anxiety becomes so severe that it threatens to keep you from enjoying your life and living independently, you may need an anti-anxiety medication such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a benzodiazepine.

What to Know About Anti-Anxiety Meds: SSRIs and benzodiazepines are the most commonly prescribed drugs for anxiety, but both have some risks and limitations

On logistic regression to control for parity, maternal status, and tobacco and benzodiazepine use, prenatal marijuana exposure more than doubled the risk of prematurity (odds ratio, 2.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-4.23); tobacco and benzodiazepines did not increase the risk.

Marijuana during prenatal OUD treatment ups premature birth risk

For the greatest chance of success, a benzodiazepine should not be reduced faster than 25% of the total daily dose per week.

Helping patients through a benzodiazepine taper

The researchers defined misuse of benzodiazepine, as using the drug without a prescription or more often or longer than prescribed.

Men are more likely to abuse benzodiazepines

17, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), long-term benzodiazepine use is not associated with mortality, but there is an association for short-term benzodiazepine use, according to a study published online Oct.

Long-Term Benzodiazepines Do Not Up Mortality in COPD, PTSD; No difference in mortality, but risk for suicide elevated with long-term benzodiazepine use

Dear Editor, After reading with interest and attention the recent letter to the editor published in this journal, "Diazepam loading: ?Can a strategy for preventing alcohol withdrawal be used to treat benzodiazepine use disorder?" (Oliveras et al., 2018), we would like to make some considerations in this regard.

Considerations for the use of a loading dose of diazepam for the treatment of benzodiazepine dependence/Consideraciones respecto al uso de dosis de carga de diazepam para el tratamiento de la dependencia a benzodiacepinas

Wedinos, a drug-testing service based in Wales, found that benzodiazepine - which includes diazepam, etizolam and alprazolam (Xanax) - was the third most common psychoactive substance sent to the organisation behind cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy).

Fears over use of benzodiazepine

NEW ORLEANS -- A reasonable stepwise approach to pharmacotherapy for agitation in outpatient dementia begins with a judiciously chosen SSRI as first-line therapy with the second-line consisting of augmentation with a benzodiazepine, M.

How to manage agitation in outpatient dementia

The benzodiazepine group of drugs is a large class, which have multiple clinical uses including management of insomnia, seizures, alcohol withdrawal, and muscle spasm and also have proved use in the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Clonazepam-induced acute liver injury: A case report