Benzodiazepines – Pronounced: ben-zo-dye-az-e-peens

What are benzodiazepines used for?
Benzodiazepines are a group of medicines usually used to relieve the symptoms people may have with anxiety (feeling tense, fearful or on edge) and insomnia (not being able to sleep or waking up earlier than usual). Medicines are often used to treat more than one condition, so if you are not sure why you have been prescribed a benzodiazepine, you should discuss this with your doctor. Benzodiazepines are also used to manage other problems such as epilepsy, symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, …

Discontinuing Antidepressants – what you need to know
Are antidepressants addictive?
Antidepressants do not cause an addiction as with opioid drugs (such as heroin), barbiturates, amphetamines (speed), alcohol and nicotine. This means that taking your medicine regularly should not cause tolerance or craving.
• Tolerance: This occurs when the body gets used to the drug or medicine when it is taken regularly, so that you need to take higher doses to have the same effect.
• Craving: This is a physical urge, where the body needs the drug or medicine to maintain a …

Tricyclic antidepresants
What are tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) used for?
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are a group of medicines usually used to help treat people with depression. Medicines are often used to treat more than one condition, so if you are not sure why you have been prescribed a TCA, you should discuss this with your doctor. Types of TCAs are amitryptyline, clomipramine, dosulepin (dothiepin), imipramine, lofepramine, nortriptyline and trimipramine. Your medicine may also have a trade or brand name. This is the name that the manufacturer gives to the medicine, for example Anafranil® …

By age 14, 35% of youth have engaged in some form of illicit (illegal) drug use. By the end of high school, more than 50% will have tried at least one illicit drug. Teens who begin using illicit drugs before the age of 15 are more likely to develop a lifelong dependence on illegal substances. Below are a few of the most common drugs used by youth.
Marijuana is the most prevalent illicit drug used by teens because it is easily accessible. In fact, 90% of high school seniors stated that …