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Benzodiazepines
The benzodiazepines are a class of drugs with hypnotic, anxiolytic,
anticonvulsant, amnestic and muscle relaxant properties. Benzodiazepines are
often used for short-term relief of severe, disabling anxiety or insomnia.
Long-term use can be problematic due to the development of tolerance and
dependency. They are believed to act on the GABA receptor GABAA, the activation
of which dampens higher neuronal activity. They began to be widely prescribed
for stress-related ailments in the 1960s and 1970s.
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