benzodiazepine
benzodiazepine — noun
- benzodiazepinesingular
- benzodiazepinesplural
1. a type of drug given by doctors to reduce strong feelings of worry, help a perso
a type of drug given by doctors to reduce strong feelings of worry, help a person sleep, relax tight muscles, or stop seizures
After the earthquake, the clinic gave Fernando a low dose of benzodiazepine to help him sleep through the night.
a low dose of benzodiazepine
Dr. Hassan prescribed a benzodiazepine for Nia's muscle spasms, but warned her about the risk of dependence.
The hospital pharmacy keeps a strict record of every benzodiazepine it dispenses because the drugs are tightly regulated.
Sanjay's grandmother takes a small dose of benzodiazepine each night because her anxiety keeps her awake.
Long-term use of benzodiazepines can lead to dependency, so doctors usually prescribe them only for a few weeks at a time.
- tranquilizer
broader term that includes other drug classes with calming effects, not just benzodiazepines
- sedative
general term for any drug that slows down brain activity; benzodiazepines are one type of sedative
- sleeping pill
informal term focusing only on the sleep-inducing use; many sleeping pills are not benzodiazepines
- anti-anxiety medication
broader category that includes benzodiazepines as well as other drug types such as SSRIs
- stimulant
a drug that increases activity and alertness, producing the opposite effect of a benzodiazepine
用法筆記
Often used in the plural form 'benzodiazepines' when referring to the drug class as a whole. This is a technical medical term, not common in everyday conversation.