How to Coach Yourself and Others Coaching and Counseling in Difficult Circumstances | Page 39

This book is in B&W, not color - Print page in Grayscale for Correct view! MEDICATION Anxiety and insomnia Benzodiazepines What are they? Benzodiazepines are drugs used primarily to treat symptoms of the following. • Severe anxiety, eg tension, feeling shaky, sweating and a difficulty in thinking straight. The drugs, known as anxiolytics and (misleadingly) minor tranquillisers, include diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), oxazepam (Serenid) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium). • Short-term problems with sleeping. Drugs known as hypnotics include loprazolam, nitrazepam (Mogadon) and temazepam (Normison). Benzodiazepines also have muscle-relaxing properties and some (e.g. diazepam) can help the following: • Epilepsy: particularly ‘status epilepticus’. • Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal (usually chlordiazepoxide). When someone has been heavily dependent upon alcohol, giving benzodiazepines during withdrawal may help prevent very serious, even life-threatening symptoms such as delirium tremens. Side-effects Common side-effects Drowsiness, sleepiness and an inability to concentrate during the day. Rare but important side-effects • Patient becomes aggressive, excitable, talkative or disinhibited. Ask the doctor to review the medication. • Rash: if this occurs, patients should stop the drug and see the doctor. When are they not helpful? Benzodiazepines are not ideal for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia because they only give symptomatic relief, do not treat the underlying illness and are addictive. They should not be taken regularly for more than 4–6 weeks. Taking them once per day or every other day (for insomnia) or irregularly, eg for 1 or 2 weeks for panic attacks, reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of addiction (for more efficacious and longer-term treatments, see the guidelines on Sleep problems, Panic and Generalised anxiety disorder). Benzodiazepines should be avoided wherever possible during pregnancy, childbirth and breast-feeding. They can sedate the baby and cause breathing problems. They should not be used routinely to deal with sudden stress (eg bereavement, imprisonment) (see the guidelines on Bereavement and Adjustment disorders). For [email protected] Property of Bookemon, do NOT distribute 41