Janet’s psychiatrist prescribes benzodiazepines to treat her anxiety disorder. Janet is worried that she will develop an addicti
on to the drug. Her psychiatrist tells her that her concerns are valid and suggests an alternative that poses a lesser risk of addiction. In this case, the alternative drugs prescribed by the psychiatrist are most likely to be
Benzodiazepines are a class of medications known as tranquilizers popularly used to treat anxiety disorders, fear, tension, agitation, and related states of mental disturbances. Benzodiazepines are known to have a ranging short to long long term sedating effect, long term use of the drug could lead to drug dependence or addiction. However, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) which are class of antidepressants used to treat anxiety disorders and major depressive disorders, do not have sedative effect and are not addictive.
You should try to determine the nature of the complaint and rule out and treat any immediate life-threatening airway, breathing and circulation problems
