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benzoes, downers, sleepers, valium, Xanax, Kalma

Benzodiazepines belong to a group of central nervous system depressants called minor tranquilisers. They come as pills in a variety of colours and shapes, according to the brand.Close up of scattered pills of different shapes and sizes


Valium was released in 1963 and became widely used. Since then many other benzodiazepines have been developed.

Some common benzodiazepines and their trade names

diazepam —Valium, Ducene, Antenex, Valpam

oxazepam —Serepax, Murelax, Alepam

nitrazepam —Mogadon, Alodorm

temazepam —Normison, Temaze, Temtabs

lorazepam —Ativan

flunitrazepam —Rohypnol,Hypnodorm

bromazepam —Lexotan

clonazepam —Rivotril, Paxam

alprazolam —Xanax, Kalma

Benzodiazepine-like drugs

zolpidem - Stilnox, Ambien

zopiclone - Imovane, Zimovane

Benzodiazepines and the law

Benzodiazepines can be prescribed by doctors and are legal if used as prescribed.

It is illegal to use benzodiazepines without a prescription, or to give or sell them to other people.

If you are under the influence of drugs (including prescription drugs prescribed to you), it is not legal to drive a car. All benzodiazepines dispensed from a pharmacy will come with a label warning you not to drive a car or operate machinery when affected by them.

How benzodiazepines are used



Short-term effects

The immediate effects of taking benzodiazepines include:

  • a feeling of relaxation, sleepiness and lack of energy
  • dizziness
  • euphoria
  • confusion
  • visual distortions
  • moodiness
  • short-term memory loss.





Long-term effects


  • anxiety, irritability, paranoia, aggression, and depression
  • muscle weakness, rashes, nausea and weight gain
  • sexual problems
  • menstrual irregularities
  • memory loss, cognitive impairment, dementia and falls
  • confusion, lethargy and sleep problems.

Risks of injecting benzodiazepines

Injecting any drug can lead to serious health problems, including collapsed veins, cellulitis (infection of the deep layers of the skin) and the spread of blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis. Injecting benzodiazepines can have even more serious effects. Benzodiazepine tablets must be dissolved before they can be injected, and the result is a sticky or lumpy fluid that has the potential to damage the circulation. Although injecting benzodiazepines is fairly uncommon, the consequences can be serious, such as: organ damage, loss of limbs, stroke and, occasionally, death.

How common is illegal benzodiazepine use?

The 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey found that 4.7% of Australians aged 14 and above have ever tried benzodiazepines  (for non-medical purposes), and 1.6% used them in the year preceding the survey.

Benzodiazepines and driving



Benzodiazepines and pregnancy


The use of opioids with benzodiazepines increases the risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) – a group of problems that occur in a newborn who was exposed to addictive opiate drugs while in the mother’s uterus.


Using benzodiazepines with other drugs


Heroin users sometimes use benzodiazepines as a substitute for heroin if it is unavailable. Benzodiazepines can also be used both to help withdrawal from heroin, and to increase its effects. Since heroin is another depressant, however, combining the two drugs greatly increases a person's risk of dying from a heroin overdose - benzodiazepines are involved in about a quarter of heroin overdose deaths.



Benzodiazepines are highly addictive, and are therefore prescribed only for short-term use. Tolerance can develop quickly; this means that dosage must be increased to get the same effect, increasing the chances of dependence. It is possible to become dependent and suffer withdrawal symptoms after only two weeks of regular use. Dependence can result in cravings and/or physical withdrawal symptoms when benzodiazepines are stopped.




If you have been using benzodiazepines for a long time you should seek medical advice before tapering off them.


Overdosing on a benzodiazepine alone rarely results in death, although high doses of benzodiazepines can lead to unconsciousness or even coma. A person who has taken an excessive dose can die by passing out and suffocating on vomit or mucus.

Benzodiazepines are commonly implicated in overdoses with multiple medications or substances. If benzodiazepines are taken with other depressants, such as alcohol, heroin or prescribed pain medication, the possibility of fatal overdose is increased.


Treatment for benzodiazepine dependence involves a gradual withdrawal of the drug under medical supervision. Doses are often reduced gradually over weeks or months.

Psychological treatments aimed at keeping the person motivated and improving their coping skills are recommended to maintain recovery. Where anxiety or insomnia were part of the original reason for using benzodiazepines, treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be useful to develop other strategies to deal with these symptoms without using benzodiazepines. Research shows that in the long term CBT can be more effective than benzodiazepines for insomnia and anxiety. Good social support can also be very helpful.