Benzodiazepine

Benzodiazepines are a class of fast-acting medications that calm the nervous system. They can quickly ease anxiety, panic, and insomnia, but carry a risk of dependence and are usually meant for short-term use.

Definition from Shrinktionary, reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA (last reviewed 2026-06-26). Shrinktionary is the network's language layer and carries the canonical short definition; this page adds the research-context detail below. Full definition on Shrinktionary →

Benzodiazepines include lorazepam, clonazepam, alprazolam, and diazepam. They work within minutes to an hour, which makes them different from SSRIs and SNRIs, which take weeks. That speed is useful in some situations and a problem in others. With regular use, the body adjusts, so the same dose does less, which is called tolerance, and stopping can cause withdrawal.

Guidelines generally recommend benzodiazepines for short-term or occasional use, not as a long-term solo treatment for anxiety. The evidence on short-term relief is clear. The evidence on harm with long-term use is also clear.

A clinician might use a benzodiazepine briefly while waiting for an SSRI to take effect, then taper it off once the SSRI is working.

Benzodiazepines carry an FDA boxed warning about the danger of combining them with opioids, which can cause severe sedation and slowed breathing. They're listed as potentially inappropriate for older adults in the AGS Beers Criteria, because of fall and confusion risk. Stopping abruptly after regular use can be medically serious, including a risk of seizures, so any taper should be planned with a clinician.