Most tranquilizers belong to a chemical group known as benzodiazepines. Tranquilizers include brand name drugs like Valium, Librium, Ativan and Serax. They are prescribed to help relieve mild to moderate anxiety and tension that result from more than just the events of day-to-day life. Other medical uses include relief of some symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and the sedation of patients before surgery. The drugs have fewer or milder side-effects than most other drugs used to relieve anxiety and tension.
Of the tranquilizers, diazepam (Valium) is most used as a street drug because it is so commonly available and produces a mild high. People who abuse diazepam often take the drug with alcohol. This practice is dangerous since both alcohol and tranquilizers are depressants. When used together, the depressant effects of one adds to the effect of the other.
Sometimes the words tranquilizer and sedative-hypnotics are used to mean the same thing. However, "sedative-hypnotic" (or "sedative") generally refers to another group of depressants used mainly as sleeping pills, or to relax muscle tension and spasm and help in giving anesthesia. People who use tranquilizers may also sleep better as a result of relaxation and relief of tension. This is where the two groups of drugs have similar effects. When needed, both are best used for short periods of time. In the long-term, there are better ways to deal with stress and sleeplessness. Some suggestions are: exercise, biofeedback, relaxation techniques, and counseling to learn better how to deal with tension and anxiety.
The short-term effects of tranquilizer use include relaxation, calmness, drowsiness, fatigue, reduced anxiety and tension, clumsiness, reduced inhibition, and slight problems with thinking and memory. Driving motor vehicles and operating machines may be dangerous while taking tranquilizers.
Long-term users of tranquilizers may experience a number of effects, including lack of energy, decreased motivation (indifference to surroundings), irritability, headaches, sexual problems, and menstrual irregularity. Those who abuse tranquilizers may experience problems with thinking, memory or judgment, confusion, slurred speech, muscle weakness. As well, abuse of tranquilizers may cause anxiety and insomnia:; precisely the opposite effects for which they are used medically. High doses or overdose of tranquilizers will cause sleep and , perhaps coma. However, the danger of these drugs increases dramatically if they are mixed with other depressants such as alcohol or sedative-hypnotics (sleeping pills).
People who abuse tranquilizers or have used tranquilizers by prescription for long periods of time can experience persistent cravings for the drug, even though it may no longer be having the desired effect. People who crave the drug experience extreme anxiety and the overwhelming desire to get relief and get control by using the drug. If people who abuse tranquilizers stop taking the drug suddenly, they can become quite sick with stomach cramps, sweating, agitation tremors, and difficulty sleeping. Often these people seek the help from a doctor or an alcohol and other drug detoxification centers to help them stop taking the drugs.