Prescription Drug Abuse

This section talks about abuse of prescription drugs other than those discussed elsewhere, such as pain medications (narcotics) and amphetamines (stimulants).  The two main categories that are left are barbiturates and benzodiazepines, commonly known as "downers," tranquilizers, or sedatives.  Medically, these medications are prescribed to combat anxiety and induce sleep or even anesthesia.  They are synthetic drugs, with the first barbiturate being synthesized in the late 1800s, and the first benzodiazepine being discovered accidentally in the early 1960s.

Barbiturates These drugs have been improved over time, but one feature remains common to all drugs in this category:  there is only a slight difference between a dose that produces sedation and a dose that may cause death.  Accidental death by overdose, particularly if alcohol is used, is one concern associated with the use of barbiturates; suicide is another.

Phenobarbital, or Luminal, is a long-acting barbiturate that is effective in treating grand mal epilepsy.  As a result of its long-lasting effects, phenobarbital may produce a hangover when the user wakes up because the effects are still active.  Newer barbiturates have faster onset times and shorter durations, thus less effect and less of a hangover.  Shorter-acting barbiturates include buta-, pento-, hexa-, and secobarbital. Tolerance and withdrawal are likely; barbiturate withdrawal resembles alcohol withdrawal and can be similarly severe, even life-threatening.

Benzodiazepines  These drugs are used more widely than barbiturates and are most commonly used to treat anxiety.  The first benzodiazepine compound chlordiazepoxide (Librium) was discovered accidentally. In contrast to barbiturates, the most outstanding feature of these drugs is safety.  There is a very large difference between an anxiety-reducing, sleep-inducing, or muscle-relaxing dose and a lethal dose; so much so that there is little possibility of accidental or deliberate death from these drugs used alone.  However, using alcohol with benzodiazepines makes them much more dangerous.  Hangover effects are likely with benzodiazepines as well. Like barbiturates, benzodiazepines can induce tolerance and withdrawal.

For more benzodiazepines currently in use, see commonly prescribed psychotropic medications for more benzodiazepines.)

For more information regarding prescription drug abuse, see http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/prescriptiondrugabuse.html or http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/prescription_drug_abuse.html.