Course Summary

Benzodiazepines have been widely prescribed for a variety of conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, psychiatric emergencies, and seizures. Neuro-inhibitory processes take place with the use of benzodiazepines, and patients need to be advised of both the benefit and risks of drug use.  Special attention should be given to vulnerable populations such as the elderly when prescribing benzodiazepines. Chronic use of these drugs may lead to chemical craving and the development of a substance use disorder. Because of this risk, patients who are prescribed benzodiazepines require adequate monitoring and follow-up to avoid the misuse of these drugs. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) a benzodiazepine use disorder is generally regarded as a sedative-hypnotic-anxiolytic use disorder and is assigned a corresponding International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 code based on the DSM-5 level of severity. Levels of benzodiazepine use and treatment for the development of a substance use disorder are discussed.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• I.        Introduction
• II.       Benzodiazepines
• III.      Benzodiazepine Use Disorder Under DSM-5 and ICD
• IV.      Prevalence of Benzodiazepine Use
• V.       Pharmacology of Benzodiazepines
  • 1.        Adverse Effects
• VI.      Epidemiology of Benzodiazepine Use Disorder
• VII.     Diagnosis of Benzodiazepine Use Disorder
  • 1.        Risk Factors
  • 2.        Clinical Characteristics
• VIII.     Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
• IX.       Clinical Characteristics of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
• X.        Treatment: Benzodiazepine Use Disorder
  • 1.        Pharmacological Management
  • 2.        Dosing Regimens
  • 3.        Adjunctive Drug Therapy
  • 4.        Flumazenil
• XI.       Psychotherapy
• XII.      Case Study: Benzodiazepine Use Disorder
• XIII.     Summary

Author

Dana Bartlett, RN, BSN, MSN, MA, CSPI

Dana Bartlett is a professional nurse and author. His clinical experience includes 16 years of ICU and ER experience and over 27 years as a poison control center information specialist. Dana has published numerous CE and journal articles, written NCLEX material, textbook chapters, and more than 100 online CE articles, and done editing and reviewing for publishers such as Elsevier, Lippincott, and Thieme. He has written widely on the subject of toxicology and was a contributing editor, toxicology section, for Critical Care Nurse journal. He is currently employed at the Connecticut Poison Control Center. He lives in Wappingers Falls, NY.