Re: (OT) Info on Benzodiazepines -The ' z ' drugs

[Guest guest]

Newer hypnotics (the 'z' drugs)

Zaleplon(Sonata), zolpidem(Ambien), and eszopiclone(Lunesta) are newer

non-benzodiazepine hypnotics that are claimed to have lower dependence

potential than benzodiazepines. The dependence potential of zolpidem

and zopiclone, however, seems to be no different from benzodiazepines,

and there is emerging anecdotal evidence of illegal abuse of zolpidem

'on the street' [Medicines Resource, 1995; MeReC, 2002]. Zaleplon has

only been available in the UK since March 2000, and its place in

therapy and its dependence potential have not yet been established

[MeReC, 2002]. The half-life of zaleplon is 1 hour, the shortest of

any currently used hypnotic.

As the dependence potential of the 'z' drugs seems to be no different

from benzodiazepines, and the 'z' drugs are much more expensive, there

is no evidence that the 'z' drugs should be prescribed instead of a

benzodiazepine for short-term use. Zopiclone is associated with an

increased risk of road traffic accidents, possibly explained by

residual effects that impair car-driving performance [barbone et al,

1998]. Zolpidem is associated with an increased risk of hip fracture

[MeReC, 2002].

" These are not chemically benzodiazepines but they bind to GABA

receptor complexes which are close to or actually coupled with

benzodiazepine receptors. They are said to be more selective, binding

mainly to the a1 GABA receptor subtype which mediates the hypnotic

effects of benzodiazepines. In practice they are not all that

selective and have much the same actions as benzodiazepines. In the

UK, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), which

advises the Health Service on optimum drug use, recommended that Z

drugs should be used for short-term treatment only (2-4 weeks) and

then only as second line treatments after benzodiazepines. They

concluded that the Z drugs produced the same therapeutic and adverse

effects as benzodiazepine hypnotics, including tolerance, dependence

and abuse, and were also more expensive. "

The Z drugs although molecularly distinct from traditional

benzodiazepines they still act on benzodiazepine receptors and produce

similar side effects and have similar addiction and withdrawal problems.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/benzo/

http://www.non-benzodiazepines.org.uk/

http://www.benzosupport.org/the_z_drugs.htm

http://www.benzo.org.uk/index.htm

http://www.benzosupport.org/

http://www.benzoliberty.com/

http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/

sherie

>

>

> What is a " non-benzodiazepine benzos? I take zolpidem (ambien) so am

> curious.

>

> Lynn

>

> >

> > " Non " -benzodiazepine benzos==

> >

> > Zolpidem ( Ambien, Stilnoct )

> > Zaleplon (Sonata)

> > Eszopiclone ( Lunesta )

> > Zopiclone ( Zimovane, Imovane )

> >

> > sherie

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info sherie. Interesting and scary. But really, I

don't think I would have ever gotten a night's sleep without Ambien. I

tried some others, it was just awful. One of my goals is to get off

all unnecessary meds. Like the bp meds and the ambien. I won't ever

be able to get off my life-giving Armour thyroid though (had a

thyroidectomy).

Thanks,

Lynn