Drug cluster · 21 substances
Benzodiazepines and sedatives list
Sedatives slow the brain. Benzodiazepines, Z-drug sleep medicines, barbiturates, and muscle relaxants such as carisoprodol mostly enhance GABA, the brain's main calming chemical. Suvorexant works differently, by blocking the wake-promoting chemical orexin.
Most medicines in this cluster are Schedule IV. They work well short-term but can cause physical dependence within weeks, and stopping suddenly after regular use can cause seizures. Tapers should be gradual and supervised.
Also profiled on DoseUses in this cluster: Butalbital, Chlordiazepoxide, Clorazepate, Cyclobenzaprine, Daridorexant, Diphenhydramine, GHB, Midazolam, Oxazepam, Triazolam, and Zaleplon.
Class-wide FDA boxed warning for benzodiazepines (2020)
- Taking benzodiazepines with opioids can cause profound sedation, slowed breathing, coma, and death.
- Benzodiazepines can be misused and can lead to addiction.
- Regular use can cause physical dependence, and stopping suddenly can cause life-threatening withdrawal, including seizures.
Compare the benzodiazepines and sedatives at a glance
| Substance | Also known as | Type | US status | Medical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alprazolam | Xanax, Xanax XR | Benzodiazepine | Schedule IV | Anxiety; panic disorder |
| Butalbital | Fioricet, Fiorinal, Esgic | Short-to-intermediate-acting barbiturate (in combinations) | Schedule III | Tension-type headache |
| Carisoprodol | Soma | Centrally acting muscle relaxant | Schedule IV | Acute muscle pain (short-term) |
| Chlordiazepoxide | Librium, Librax (with clidinium) | Long-acting benzodiazepine | Schedule IV | Anxiety; alcohol withdrawal |
| Clonazepam | Klonopin | Long-acting benzodiazepine | Schedule IV | Panic disorder; seizures |
| Clorazepate | Tranxene, Tranxene T-Tab | Long-acting benzodiazepine (prodrug) | Schedule IV | Anxiety; seizures (adjunct); alcohol withdrawal |
| Cyclobenzaprine | Flexeril, Amrix, Fexmid | Centrally acting muscle relaxant (tricyclic-like) | Not federally controlled | Muscle spasm (short term) |
| Daridorexant | Quviviq | Dual orexin receptor antagonist | Schedule IV | Insomnia |
| Diazepam | Valium, Valtoco, Diastat | Long-acting benzodiazepine | Schedule IV | Anxiety; alcohol withdrawal; spasm; seizures |
| Diphenhydramine | Benadryl, ZzzQuil, Unisom SleepGels | First-generation sedating antihistamine | Not federally controlled | Allergies; occasional sleeplessness |
| Eszopiclone | Lunesta | Nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic ("Z-drug") | Schedule IV | Insomnia |
| GHB | Gamma-hydroxybutyrate, GBL, 1,4-butanediol | Central nervous system depressant | Schedule I | None (sodium oxybate is the approved form) |
| Lorazepam | Ativan, Loreev XR | Intermediate-acting benzodiazepine | Schedule IV | Anxiety; seizures; sedation |
| Midazolam | Versed, Nayzilam, Seizalam | Short-acting benzodiazepine | Schedule IV | Sedation for procedures; seizure emergencies |
| Oxazepam | Serax | Intermediate-acting benzodiazepine | Schedule IV | Anxiety; alcohol withdrawal |
| Phenobarbital | Sezaby | Barbiturate | Schedule IV | Seizures; alcohol withdrawal |
| Suvorexant | Belsomra | Orexin receptor antagonist | Schedule IV | Insomnia |
| Temazepam | Restoril | Benzodiazepine hypnotic | Schedule IV | Short-term insomnia |
| Triazolam | Halcion | Short-acting benzodiazepine (hypnotic) | Schedule IV | Short-term insomnia |
| Zaleplon | Sonata | Non-benzodiazepine hypnotic (Z-drug) | Schedule IV | Insomnia (trouble falling asleep) |
| Zolpidem | Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar | Nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic ("Z-drug") | Schedule IV | Insomnia |
Alprazolam
Xanax, Xanax XR
Alprazolam (brand name Xanax) is a short-acting benzodiazepine prescribed for generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.
Read profileButalbital
Fioricet, Fiorinal, Esgic
Butalbital is a barbiturate sedative sold only in combinations, such as Fioricet (with acetaminophen and caffeine) and Fiorinal (with aspirin and caffeine), for tension headaches.
Read profileCarisoprodol
Soma
Carisoprodol (Soma) is a muscle relaxant for short-term relief of acute, painful muscle conditions, used for no more than two or three weeks.
Read profileChlordiazepoxide
Librium, Librax (with clidinium), Libs
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) was the first benzodiazepine, introduced in 1960.
Read profileClonazepam
Klonopin
Clonazepam (Klonopin) is a long-acting benzodiazepine used for panic disorder and certain seizure disorders.
Read profileClorazepate
Tranxene, Tranxene T-Tab
Clorazepate (Tranxene) is a long-acting benzodiazepine used for anxiety, as an add-on treatment for partial seizures, and for alcohol withdrawal.
Read profileCyclobenzaprine
Flexeril, Amrix, Fexmid
Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) is a prescription muscle relaxant for short-term relief of muscle spasm.
Read profileDaridorexant
Quviviq
Daridorexant (Quviviq) is a prescription insomnia medicine that blocks orexin, a brain chemical that keeps people awake.
Read profileDiazepam
Valium, Valtoco, Diastat
Diazepam (Valium) is a long-acting benzodiazepine used for anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, muscle spasms, and seizures.
Read profileDiphenhydramine
Benadryl, ZzzQuil, Unisom SleepGels
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is an over-the-counter antihistamine for allergies that also causes drowsiness and is sold as a sleep aid.
Read profileEszopiclone
Lunesta
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) is a Z-drug sleep medicine for trouble falling or staying asleep.
Read profileGHB
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate, GBL, 1,4-butanediol
GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is a central nervous system depressant sold illegally as a clear liquid or powder.
Read profileLorazepam
Ativan, Loreev XR
Lorazepam (Ativan) is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine used for anxiety, short-term insomnia caused by anxiety, and, by injection, for status epilepticus and sedation before procedures.
Read profileMidazolam
Versed, Nayzilam, Seizalam
Midazolam is a fast, short-acting benzodiazepine used to sedate people for procedures and surgery and, as Nayzilam nasal spray, to stop seizure clusters at home.
Read profileOxazepam
Serax
Oxazepam is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine for anxiety and alcohol withdrawal.
Read profilePhenobarbital
Sezaby
Phenobarbital is a long-acting barbiturate used mainly for seizures and, in hospitals, for alcohol withdrawal.
Read profileSuvorexant
Belsomra
Suvorexant (Belsomra) is a sleep medicine that blocks orexin, a brain chemical that keeps you awake, rather than boosting GABA like benzodiazepines and Z-drugs.
Read profileTemazepam
Restoril
Temazepam (Restoril) is a benzodiazepine sleeping pill approved for short-term treatment of insomnia, usually 7 to 10 days.
Read profileTriazolam
Halcion, Blues
Triazolam (Halcion) is a short-acting benzodiazepine sleeping pill for short-term insomnia, usually 7 to 10 days.
Read profileZaleplon
Sonata
Zaleplon (Sonata) is a very short-acting prescription sleep medicine, a Z-drug related to zolpidem, for trouble falling asleep.
Read profileZolpidem
Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar
Zolpidem (Ambien) is a prescription sleep medicine that acts on the same brain receptors as benzodiazepines.
Read profile