Can Benzodiazepines Cause Respiratory Depression? Key Facts You Should Know

Medications like Benzodiazepines that are used to calm your mind often come with effects that go way beyond just reducing your anxiety or helping you with a good night’s sleep. When used correctly with proper restriction and guidance, benzos are a very effective solution to conditions like sleeplessness and anxiety.  But when overdosed or misused, it becomes a concern. People often ask stuff like “Can Benzodiazepines cause Respiratory depression?” If yes then how can benzodiazepines cause respiratory depression? In this article we’ll explore if there is even a relation between Benzodiazepines and respiratory depression, whether they can become dangerous and what precautions can help ensure safer use. But before we go any further let’s get to know what exactly Benzodiazepines are.

Understanding Benzodiazepines And Their Working Method

Benzodiazepine or better known as benzo is a nerve calming pill. It is a prescription CNS (Central Nervous System) depressant used to treat conditions like Anxiety, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal, muscle spasms and Seizures. It is a sedative-hypnotic drug. But what’s the process? How does Benzo help with anxiety, insomnia and all the other conditions? Well benzo acts on the central nervous system by enhancing the effects of GABA, a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity. By slowing down your brain’s activity it reduces your anxiety and insomnia. But these are not the only functions that are suppressed. It can also suppress other activities like breathing.

Can Benzodiazepines Cause Respiratory Depression & How?

Yes, benzodiazepines can cause respiratory depression. It doesn’t happen normally if you use the drug according to the prescription and if you do not mix it with any other substances. But it still is a possibility. It weakens the brain’s signals to breathe. As a result breathing becomes slower or shallower. This is even more risky for the people who are sensitive. The risk of respiratory depression becomes higher when you take a higher dosage of benzo than the prescribed amount. Your age, your body weight and your overall health condition also play a part in how long Benzo can stay in your system and how your body will react to it. 

Risk Factors That Increase Respiratory Depression

• Mixing Benzodiazepines with Opioids: If you combine Benzos with opioids like Fentanyl or morphine it can turn into one of the most dangerous scenarios. Both of them are CNS depressants and their combined effect can significantly increase the risk of reduced breathing. In fact this combination is a major contributor to overdose-related deaths worldwide.

• Mixing it with Alcohol: Alcohol is another CNS depressant so mixing even a little amount of alcohol with Benzodiazepines can create breathing problems.

• Pre-existing Breathing condition: If you have pre-existing breathing conditions like COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) or sleep apnea then you are at a higher risk. Because Breathing is already a problem for you and adding even more pressure through Benzodiazepines dosen’t make any sense.

• Overdose Risks: If you overdose on it then benzodiazepines can cause extreme sedation. This can lead to a very slow or ineffective breathing. While a benzo overdose is not as risky as an opioid overdose, it still can be fatal in case other depressants are involved. 

Signs of Respiratory Depression

Recognizing the very first signs of respiratory depression becomes very important espesially if you are on medications like Benzodiazepines. Early signs like facing discomfort while breathing, feeling drowsy, getting tired and feeling confused easily, slurred speech, and facing problems waking up can be used as a warning sign. In extreme cases you may develop bluish lips or fingertips. This happens due to the insufficiency of oxygen in the body. If you are on Benzodiazepines and you start facing any of these symptoms then you should get in touch with a medical professional as soon as possible. This could certainly save your life as a lack of oxygen in your body for a long time can cause brain damage and in worst cases, Death. 

Effects of Long-term use on Respiratory health

Benzodiazepines are generally not for long-term use. If you use Benzodiazepines for a long-term then your body develops dependence on them. If penance is built then the same dose of benzo won’t be as effective as before. As a result you will be tempted to increase the dosage. That is exactly what most people do, and that is how they end up in the hospital ER. Increasing the dosage without medical supervision can be risky because you can easily end up overdosing. Overdosing on benzos can definitely increase the chance of you being breathless. Other than that, with CNS depressants like this there is always a chance of addiction. If addicted then there is no way out of it without facing the withdrawal symptoms. And benzo withdrawal can be life-threatening.  If by any chance you are already addicted to benzos, then you should try benzodiazepine addiction treatment.

How To Take Benzodiazepines Safely?

Taking benzodiazepines by following the exact prescription is the most important step in reducing any kind of risks. Avoid increasing the dosage without talking to a doctor first. Another thing to avoid is mixing it with other substances and making a dangerous combination. If you are someone who is under long-term benzodiazepine treatment then you should get medical appointments in regular intervals. Taking benzos for anxiety and insomnia is fine and all but there are multiple alternatives to benzos which can work just as well and with far less risk. Trying those alternatives and figuring out what works best for yourself is your best option. 

Final Thoughts

So does benzodiazepines cause respiratory depression?  Yes they can. But the risk you are in depends on the dose you have taken and whether you have combined it with any other substances. If you take benzodiazepines in moderation and according to the prescription your doctor gave then they are generally considered safe. But misuse or overdose can lead to serious complications.