Benzodiazepine derivatives--side effects and dangers.

The benzodiazepines are generally safe and effective drugs with usually only minor side effects, dose-related sedation being the most common. A range of paradoxical effects can occur of which release of aggressive and hostile feelings has excited most attention. These responses are idiosyncratic however, as most patients report decrease of such feelings while taking benzodiazepines. Dependence on benzodiazepines with escalation of dosage and/or social abuse is uncommon set against their widespread use. Recently though, evidence has accumulated that patients on normal doses for prolonged periods can commonly experience withdrawal symptoms, often unpleasant and even severe. These drugs should be reserved for patients suffering from defined clinical anxiety syndromes and not used indiscriminately in patients with normal stress responses.