The Effect Of Benzodiazepines

It’s 10:30 and I’ve just taken a dose of Alprazolam. It was not a large dose, but since I am not used to this medicine, it has a greater effect than otherwise. Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine that is sometimes used to treat panic and anxiety. The effect of benzodiazepines on body and mind is great.

It is probably not entirely uncommon for me to take this medicine, when one considers that modern society over-medicates and gives medicine against most things. I plan to keep a log of how I feel after taking this medicine, where I will write down each side effect when I feel it is at its worst.

The effect of benzodiazepines is varied, and also depends on the person. These drugs reduce the normal stimulation of the brain. If the brain is overactive, these substances can calm it down. I placed the remedy under my tongue and let it dissolve, before drinking some water to get rid of the bitter aftertaste.

The mental and emotional effects of benzodiazepines

The time is now 10.50, and the effects are noticeable. I’m calmer than before, the kind of calmer that comes slowly and gradually, much like drowsiness. It’s almost like I could go to bed right away. I could also go for a walk, but I probably would not have had my reflexes intact. It would be impossible to drive a car in this condition. Nor would work be possible, it would simply have been too strange. It almost feels like I’m watching a movie. I only observe what is going on around me, but it does not feel like it has anything to do with me.

Sounds bother me. I had to turn down the volume on the TV and ask my family to speak more calmly. In general , I have become more sensitive to external stimuli. Although I feel more relaxed, I am at the same time hypersensitive to everything around me, such as loud noises and bright light.

My mental processes go slower. I would not be able to do everyday tasks as normal, nor would I be able to maintain a conversation if it had required more than moderate concentration. Despite this, I manage to perform some simple tasks.

The behavioral effect of benzodiazepines

I get up and go slowly to the bathroom. I wash my hands, even slowly. Then I observe each movement carefully, before returning to the living room and sitting on the sofa. My movements are slow.

I’m a little hungry. When people talk to me, I have to concentrate extra hard to keep up. Typing on a computer is something I can do, even if I type more incorrectly than usual. My coordination is weakened, which would have made it difficult to perform physically or mentally demanding tasks. And as I said before, I would not be able to drive. Nor would studying and reading difficult texts go particularly well.

How do benzodiazepines work?

According to some studies, I experience a reduction in nerve impulse transmissions, which in turn reduces the brain’s degree of overstimulation. The drug has a depressant effect on the nervous system. It causes drowsiness and reduces the chances of waking up in the middle of the night.

Some studies also suggest that the benzodiazepine I just took improves the effect of the GABA neurotransmitter (gamma-aminobutanoic acid). This inhibits the neurons, reduces the transfer rate and makes me feel calmer.

Cecilio Álamo González, a professor of pharmacology at Alcalá University in Spain, confirms that this is a medicine that most people have a good tolerance for, and which is safe to use as hypnotics for a period of two to four weeks. He also suggests that the drug can be used as an anxiolytic for two to three months. If used for long periods of time, it may cause some health problems.

Conclusion

I’m still worried. My mental activity is reduced, but when the effect of the medicine passes, I have to face the fear. I still think about what bothers me. Since I am drowsy because of the medicine, I do not react so intensely, but my problems have not disappeared.

Trying to resolve internal conflicts with drugs is a mediocre solution. Benzodiazepines can help calm a person and can reduce anxiety. On the other hand, one will not be able to enjoy inner peace until one also resolves the inner mental conflicts one has.