title: Are benzodiazepines overused and abused?
abstract: 1 Drug use has to be viewed in the context of symptoms or illnesses for which they are prescribed. It is concluded that overall psychotropic drugs are used conservatively. 2 The benzodiazepines are safe drugs and in contrast with other centrally acting agents overuse will rarely have severe consequences. 3 Abrupt discontinuation may lead to temporary withdrawal reactions in patients who have been taking benzodiazepines regularly for 4 months or longer. Such reactions may occur more frequently in patients taking high doses.
mesh_terms: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D001569:Benzodiazepines