What are
Benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines are sedative medications
- Benzodiazepines are a group of medications which that are commonly used to treat poor sleep (insomnia) and anxiety.
- They cannot be brought over the counter, and must be prescribed by a doctor or healthcare provider.
- There are many different benzodiazepine medications available, due to differences in how long they work for (short versus long acting) and how they are broken down by the body.
How they work
- These medications connect to a chemical receptor in the brain decreasing activity and leading to feelings of calm, relaxation, and sleepiness.
- Therefore, this group of medications are called sedatives.
Available forms of benzodiazepines in Canada
- Most benzodiazepines are in the form of a tablet or capsule, which is taken orally. Many are also available in other formats such as powder, for injection. The appearance will depend on the specific type of benzodiazepine prescribed.
- There are different types of benzodiazepine type medications, which are listed below. They may be referred to either by their brand name (such as Ativan) or by their generic name (lorazepam).
| BRAND NAME & GENERIC NAME | |
| BRAND NAME | GENERIC NAME |
| Ativan | lorazepam |
| Diastat / Valium | diazepam |
| Clonazepam / Clonapam / Rivotril | clonazepam |
| Nayzilam | midazolam |
| Restoril | temazepam |