Due to the risk of developing tolerance, dependence, and adverse health effects, such as cognitive impairment,<unk> s are indicated for short-term use only - a few weeks, followed by a gradual dose reduction. The Committee on the Review of Medicines (UK) The Committee on the Review of Medicines carried out a review into<unk> s due to significant concerns of tolerance, drug dependence,<unk>  withdrawal problems, and other adverse effects and published the results in the British Medical Journal in March 1980. The committee found that<unk> s do not have any antidepressant or analgesic properties and are, therefore, unsuitable treatments for conditions such as depression, tension headaches, and dysmenorrhea.<unk> s are also not beneficial in the treatment of psychosis. The committee also recommended against<unk> s for use in the treatment of anxiety or insomnia in children. The committee was in agreement with the Institute of Medicine (USA) and the conclusions of a study carried out by the White House Office of Drug Policy and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (USA) that there is little evidence that long-term use of<unk>  hypnotics are beneficial in the treatment of insomnia due to the development of tolerance.<unk> s tend to lose their sleep-promoting properties within 3–14 days of continuous use, and, in the treatment of anxiety, the committee found that there was little convincing evidence that<unk> s retains efficacy in the treatment of anxiety after 4 months of continuous use due to the development of tolerance. The committee found that the regular use of<unk> s causes the development of dependence characterized by tolerance to the therapeutic effects of<unk> s and the development of the<unk>  withdrawal syndrome including symptoms such as anxiety, apprehension, tremors, insomnia, nausea, and vomiting upon cessation of<unk>  use. Withdrawal symptoms tend to develop within 24 hours upon cessation of short-acting<unk> s, and 3–10 days after cessation of longer-acting<unk> s. Withdrawal effects could even occur after treatment lasting only 2 weeks at therapeutic dose levels; however, withdrawal effects tend to occur with habitual use beyond 2 weeks and are more likely the higher the dose. The withdrawal symptoms may appear to be similar to the original condition. The committee recommended that all<unk>  treatment be withdrawn gradually and recommended that<unk>  treatment be used only in carefully selected patients and that therapy be limited to short-term use only. It was noted in the review that alcohol can potentiate the central nervous system-depressant effects of<unk> s and should be avoided. The central nervous system-depressant effects of<unk> s may make driving or operating machinery dangerous, and the elderly are more prone to these adverse effects. High single doses or repeated low doses have been reported to produce hypotonia, poor sucking, and hypothermia in the neonate, and irregularities in the fetal heart. The committee recommended that<unk> s be avoided in lactation. The committee recommended that withdrawal from<unk> s be gradual, as abrupt withdrawal from high doses of<unk> s may cause confusion, toxic psychosis, convulsions, or a condition resembling delirium tremens. Abrupt withdrawal from lower doses may cause depression, nervousness, rebound insomnia, irritability, sweating, and diarrhea. The committee concluding:
Benzodiazepine dependence
Opioid withdrawal
Amphetamine dependence
Drug withdrawal
Nicotine withdrawal
Cocaine dependence
Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome
Benzodiazepine use disorder