“Phenazepam” is the first tranquilizer in the USSR, created by a group of scientists in the early seventies of the last century. At first, the drug was mainly used by military doctors, then its use became popular in the treatment of depression, insomnia and other neurological problems. The action of Phenazepam is an anticonvulsant, sedative and hypnotic effect. The medicine is often highly addictive and is recognized as a drug in many countries.
General information
Phenazepam is a potent tranquilizer. It has a highly active effect on the nervous system. It is recommended for use as directed and under the supervision of a physician, as unpredictable reactions to Phenazepam may occur. It is not known what effect the drug will have in case of uncontrolled use.
If taken for a long time (more than two months), the pills can cause severe dependence, which will lead to worsening problems. Abuse threatens the development of severe depression and even the desire to commit suicide.
The duration of action of Phenazepam is several hours. After oral administration, the drug is easily absorbed, and within 1–2 hours the maximum concentration of the active substance in the blood is observed. The half-life ranges from six to eighteen hours, depending on the dosage.
Stages of addiction formation
After 1-3 weeks of using phenazepam for non-medical purposes without a doctor’s prescription, physical and mental dependence develops. The injection method of administering the drug is especially dangerous.
In the first stages of the disease, there is an intense psychological attraction to phenazepam. The patient is increasingly using the drug without a doctor’s indication. Next, there is a deliberate increase in dosage as tolerance develops.
At the second stage of addiction, intoxication from the drug does not bring the expected result; the pleasure lasts for several minutes. Negative symptoms of intoxication increase and become more pronounced. A person’s physical and mental activity is reduced, patients are in constant chronic tension and an anxious state. Withdrawal syndrome occurs when the drug is discontinued.
At the third stage, the drug addict begins to inject phenazepam orally. Internal organs are affected, and diseases associated with drug addiction arise. A person’s personality changes, and previously unusual character traits are observed. The attitude towards others is aggressive, patients at the third stage of addiction become socially distant. Moral values, hobbies, interests, study and work are lost.
Long-term uncontrolled use of phenazepam leads to abuse and the formation of drug addiction. In addition, criminal use of phenazepam is possible: when it is used in doses exceeding therapeutic doses, short-term amnesia develops.
Chekulaev Matvey Igorevich, Maksimova Tatyana Vladimirovna, Barsegyan Samvel Serezhaevich The danger of phenazepam as a street drug // Medical and pharmaceutical journal “Pulse”, 2015.
Effect of the drug
The drug is characterized by various actions. The anxiolytic effect is expressed in the form of a decrease in emotional stress, relieving feelings of fear, anxiety, anxiety and panic. It is caused by the effect of the drug on the central nervous system.
The sedative effect is manifested by a decrease in neurotic symptoms, due to the effect on the brain stem and thalamic nuclei. At the same time, patients experience gradual calming, removal of aggressiveness, irritability, and nervousness.
The anticonvulsant effect is due to increased nervous inhibition. At the same time, the impulses that caused such manifestations are suppressed.
The hypnotic effect is associated with inhibition of brain cells, reducing the impact of stimuli that affect the mechanism of falling asleep (emotional, motor provocateurs). As a result, the duration and regularity of sleep is regulated.
Indications
The effect of Phenazepam is depressant on the nervous system, so the need to take the drug should be determined only by a doctor. As a rule, the medicine is prescribed in the following cases:
- psychopathic and neurological conditions;
- constant feeling of anxiety, fear;
- irritability, aggressiveness;
- panic, state of psychosis;
- sleep disorders;
- treatment of alcoholism (acts as an adjuvant);
- phobias, mania;
- preparation for surgery;
- epilepsy.
History and medicinal uses
The creation of Phenazepam in the 70s of the last century is one of the most important achievements of domestic medicine. Before him, tranquilizers were not made in the USSR, and such drugs were not supplied from abroad. People with severe psychopathic and neurotic conditions turned out to be doomed - it was not possible to relieve seizures and normalize the condition quickly, so patients, in fact, were simply closed from society in psychiatric institutions.
Phenazepam made it possible to quickly stabilize even the most severe psychopathological and neurotic conditions. The main indications, according to the instructions, are:
- Depression.
- Chronic insomnia.
- Uncontrollable feelings of fear and anxiety.
- Post-traumatic syndrome.
- Increased irritability, psychosis.
Sometimes doctors prescribe Phenazepam to treat alcoholism.
Phenazepam is able to have a muscle relaxant effect (that is, relax smooth muscles). Thanks to this property, the drug is taken to relieve seizures in epileptics. A tranquilizer is also prescribed in the treatment of alcoholism. Able to quickly eliminate symptoms of withdrawal syndrome (convulsions, tremors, autonomic dysfunction and other conditions that appear against the background of a sharp cessation of alcohol).
Contraindications
It is strictly forbidden to take the drug with alcoholic beverages. The action of Phenazepam with alcohol can lead to shock. In addition, there are a number of other strict restrictions:
- acute respiratory failure;
- angle-closure glaucoma (including a tendency to it);
- coma;
- state of shock;
- myasthenia gravis;
- hypersensitivity to components;
- acute poisoning with drugs, sleeping pills, alcohol;
- childhood and adolescence (action and effect unknown);
- state of severe depression.
Pregnant and lactating women are strongly advised not to take Phenazepam. The effect on the child’s body can be overwhelming and depressing, as a result of which newborns are born lethargic (with poor breathing, appetite, inactive), often with congenital pathologies of the nervous system. It is especially dangerous to use the medicine in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Overdose
If the drug is abused, the effect of Phenazepam can have extremely unpleasant consequences, leading to disruption of the body’s functioning. Overdose has a negative effect on the nervous system, resulting in the following conditions:
- depression of consciousness;
- confusion of movements;
- slurred speech;
- excessive sleepiness;
- decreased reflexes;
- coma.
An excess of a tranquilizer often leads to disruption of the cardiac and respiratory systems, causing a decrease in blood pressure, shortness of breath, causing tachycardia or bradycardia. Possible digestive problems:
- constipation;
- diarrhea;
- nausea, vomiting;
- heartburn;
- dry mouth.
The action of "Phenazepam" is characterized by a negative effect on the functionality of the kidneys and genitourinary system, therefore, in case of overdose, the following disorders are possible:
- urinary incontinence or retention;
- acute kidney failure;
- decreased libido.
Among other things, drug abuse can lead to fever, jaundice, difficulty breathing, or even death.
Consequences of long-term use
The medical purpose of a tranquilizer involves short-term courses within strict indications. The reason is that after 1-2 weeks of use, the effectiveness from a medical point of view decreases. A drug addict voluntarily exceeds the dosage due to the development of tolerance. The results of phenazepam drug addiction for the body are disastrous:
- rapid formation of physical dependence;
- painful withdrawal syndrome;
- a state of constant, chronic anxiety;
- muscle convulsions;
- the gastrointestinal tract suffers, pathologies develop in this area;
- possible development of toxic hepatitis;
- unstable emotional background;
- chronic fatigue, fatigue;
- kidney and heart problems;
- anosognosia - patients are not able to objectively assess their condition, there is a denial of drug addiction;
- due to absent-minded attention, the patient is unable to drive a car or operate machinery;
- the cognitive sphere, intelligence, and thought processes suffer;
- the patient becomes socially maladjusted.
Systematic use leads to a person developing a depressive disorder and suicidal intentions. To alleviate this condition, drug addicts resort to repeated use of pills.
The structure of the withdrawal syndrome after benzodiazepine withdrawal includes mental and somatoneurological disorders. The first include irritability, up to severe dysphoria, tension, depressed mood, a significant increase in anxiety and restlessness, agitation or, conversely, lethargy, increased fatigue, as well as depersonalization and severe sleep disorders. Somatoneurological disorders include autonomic disorders: increased sweating, hyperhidrosis, tachycardia (up to 100 beats or more per minute), hypotension, and sometimes hyperthermia. Anorexia, nausea, and vomiting are noted.
Tiganov A.S. (ed.) ‹‹Exogenous mental disorders›› Substance abuse caused by abuse of tranquilizers.
Taking phenazepam increases the risk of polydrug addiction—an addicted person resorts to using other drugs. A mixture of a tranquilizer with other medications or alcohol is fraught with overdose and irreparable consequences for the body.
Systematic use has a very negative effect on memory processes. Patients are not able to assimilate new material or operate with the received data. Speech becomes monotonous. There is indifference to the surrounding world. Communication reveals rudeness, self-centeredness, and lack of empathy. Moral values are being lost. A person has many conflicts with his environment, loses his job, and studies suffer.
The final stages of addiction force the patient to administer the drug intravenously, which increases the risk of overdose.
Peculiarities
The effect of tablets (“Phenazepam”) is especially noticeable in cases where the patient has not previously used psychoactive drugs. In such cases, the dose of medication should be minimal, since “newbies” are especially susceptible to pills.
With long-term use of the drug in large doses, severe dependence can develop, so it is not recommended to prescribe a course for more than 2 weeks (in rare cases, a month). Abruptly stopping the use of pills sometimes provokes a withdrawal reaction, which manifests itself in the form of depression, insomnia, aggressiveness or excessive sweating.
It is forbidden to drink any alcohol-containing drinks while using Phenazepam. The effect on the body when interacting with sleeping pills or narcotic drugs is enhanced by the manifestation of depression of the central nervous system. Such a combination guarantees a state of extreme inadequacy and can last several days.
“Phenazepam” affects the reaction rate, so during treatment it is not recommended to drive, operate machinery or engage in any other activity that requires increased concentration.
