Know to as a trank o downer, phenazepam is prescribed to people suffering from anxiety. A powerful antidepressant that must be used with caution when it comes to elder patients, because research has revealed adverse affects this drug and other benzodiazepines cause in this specific sector of the population. However, these are not the only individuals affected for the undesirable effects this kind of drugs produce in the short or long term.
A Transformation Story
Although there are over fifteen different types of benzodiazepines, phenazepam has turned into the favorite drug of abuse among all of them. Research on benzodiazepines can be traced back to the early 1930s, but it was until the 1980s when people began to use them as recreational drugs in the United States. One reason why people adopted phenazepam as their favorite benzodiazepine is probably based on the powerful hypnotic, relaxant and sedative effects it produces.
Potential Negative Effects
Side effects this drug produces may vary from one individual to another, not to mention the dosage used. The more noticeable adverse effects of phenazepam in the short term include confusion, altered vision, impaired memory, thinking and motor coordination, stuttering, followed by confusion, fatigue, lethargy, drowsiness, nausea, vertigo and depression. In elder people and children, these effects are dramatically enhanced, and may cause tremors, vomiting, diarrhea and respiratory depression.
High doses and long-term use may carry extreme drowsiness, slow reflexes, and erratic behavior. Some people may turn aggressive, feel euphoria or unexpected mood swings. Because phenazepam has a long half-life, the substance is eliminated from the body very slowly, producing additional side effects such as disorientation, muscle weakness, impaired judgment, and total or partial amnesia or memory blackouts.
Despite these symptoms are expected to happen in habitual phenazepam users, adverse effects may also appear when someone tries this drug the first time.