Editing Benzodiazepine (section)

===Other indications===
Benzodiazepines are often prescribed for a wide range of conditions:
* They can sedate patients receiving [[mechanical ventilation]] or those in extreme distress. Caution is exercised in this situation due to the risk of [[respiratory depression]], and it is recommended that [[benzodiazepine overdose]] treatment facilities should be available.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Devlin JW, Roberts RJ | title = Pharmacology of commonly used analgesics and sedatives in the ICU: benzodiazepines, propofol, and opioids | journal = Critical Care Clinics | volume = 25 | issue = 3 | pages = 431–49, vii | date = July 2009 | pmid = 19576523 | doi = 10.1016/j.ccc.2009.03.003 }}</ref> They have also been found to increase the likelihood of later PTSD after people have been removed from ventilators.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Parker AM, Sricharoenchai T, Raparla S, Schneck KW, Bienvenu OJ, Needham DM | title = Posttraumatic stress disorder in critical illness survivors: a metaanalysis | journal = Critical Care Medicine | volume = 43 | issue = 5 | pages = 1121–1129 | date = May 2015 | pmid = 25654178 | doi = 10.1097/CCM.0000000000000882 | s2cid = 11478971 }}</ref>
*Benzodiazepines are indicated in the management of breathlessness (shortness of breath) in advanced diseases, in particular where other treatments have failed to adequately control symptoms.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Simon ST, Higginson IJ, Booth S, Harding R, Weingärtner V, Bausewein C | title = Benzodiazepines for the relief of breathlessness in advanced malignant and non-malignant diseases in adults | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 2016 | pages = CD007354 | date = October 2016 | issue = 10 | pmid = 27764523 | pmc = 6464146 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD007354.pub3 }}</ref>
* Benzodiazepines are effective as medication given a couple of hours before surgery to relieve anxiety. They also produce [[amnesia]], which can be useful, as patients may not remember unpleasantness from the procedure.<ref name="Broscheit-2008">{{cite journal | vauthors = Broscheit J, Kranke P | title = [The preoperative medication: background and specific indications for the selection of the drugs] | journal = Anästhesiologie, Intensivmedizin, Notfallmedizin, Schmerztherapie | volume = 43 | issue = 2 | pages = 134–143 | date = February 2008 | pmid = 18293248 | doi = 10.1055/s-2008-1060547 | s2cid = 259982203 }}</ref> They are also used in patients with [[dental phobia]] as well as some ophthalmic procedures like refractive surgery; although such use is controversial and only recommended for those who are very anxious.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Berthold C | title = Enteral sedation: safety, efficacy, and controversy | journal = Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry | volume = 28 | issue = 5 | pages = 264–271; quiz 272, 282 | date = May 2007 | pmid = 17607891 }}</ref> Midazolam is the most commonly prescribed for this use because of its strong sedative actions and fast recovery time, as well as its water solubility, which reduces pain upon injection. Diazepam and lorazepam are sometimes used. Lorazepam has particularly marked amnesic properties that may make it more effective when amnesia is the desired effect.<ref name="BNF_2009"/>{{rp|693|date=November 2012}}
* Benzodiazepines are well known for their strong muscle-relaxing properties and can be useful in the treatment of muscle spasms,<ref name="BNF_2009"/>{{rp|577–578|date=November 2012}} although tolerance often develops to their muscle relaxant effects.<ref name=tdamobd2004 /> [[Baclofen]]<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Mañon-Espaillat R, Mandel S | title = Diagnostic algorithms for neuromuscular diseases | journal = Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery | volume = 16 | issue = 1 | pages = 67–79 | date = January 1999 | doi = 10.1016/S0891-8422(23)00935-7 | pmid = 9929772 | s2cid = 12493035 }}</ref> or [[tizanidine]] are sometimes used as an alternative to benzodiazepines. Tizanidine has been found to have superior tolerability compared to diazepam and baclofen.<ref name="Kamen-2008">{{cite journal | vauthors = Kamen L, Henney HR, Runyan JD | title = A practical overview of tizanidine use for spasticity secondary to multiple sclerosis, stroke, and spinal cord injury | journal = Current Medical Research and Opinion | volume = 24 | issue = 2 | pages = 425–439 | date = February 2008 | pmid = 18167175 | doi = 10.1185/030079908X261113 | s2cid = 73086671 }}</ref>
* Benzodiazepines are also used to treat the acute panic caused by [[hallucinogen]] intoxication.<ref>{{cite book |vauthors=Wyatt JP, Illingworth RN, Robertson CE, Clancy MJ, Munro PT |title=Oxford Handbook of Accident and Emergency Medicine |edition=2nd |year=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-852623-0 |pages=173–208 |chapter=Poisoning }}</ref> Benzodiazepines are also used to calm the acutely agitated individual and can, if required, be given via an intramuscular injection.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Zimbroff DL | title = Pharmacological control of acute agitation: focus on intramuscular preparations | journal = CNS Drugs | volume = 22 | issue = 3 | pages = 199–212 | year = 2008 | pmid = 18278976 | doi = 10.2165/00023210-200822030-00002 | s2cid = 73223621 }}</ref> They can sometimes be effective in the short-term treatment of psychiatric emergencies such as acute [[psychosis]] as in [[schizophrenia]] or [[mania]], bringing about rapid tranquillization and sedation until the effects of [[Lithium pharmacology|lithium]] or [[neuroleptics]] (antipsychotics) take effect. [[Lorazepam]] is most commonly used but [[clonazepam]] is sometimes prescribed for acute psychosis or mania;<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Curtin F, Schulz P | title = Clonazepam and lorazepam in acute mania: a Bayesian meta-analysis | journal = Journal of Affective Disorders | volume = 78 | issue = 3 | pages = 201–208 | date = March 2004 | pmid = 15013244 | doi = 10.1016/S0165-0327(02)00317-8 }}</ref> their long-term use is not recommended due to risks of dependence.<ref name="BNF_2009"/>{{rp|204|date=November 2012}} Further research investigating the use of benzodiazepines alone and in combination with antipsychotic medications for treating acute psychosis is warranted.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Gillies D, Sampson S, Beck A, Rathbone J | title = Benzodiazepines for psychosis-induced aggression or agitation | journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 4 | issue = 4 | pages = CD003079 | date = April 2013 | pmid = 23633309 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD003079.pub3 | hdl = 10454/16512 | hdl-access = free }}</ref>
* [[Clonazepam]], a benzodiazepine is used to treat many forms of [[parasomnia]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Schenck CH, Arnulf I, Mahowald MW | title = Sleep and sex: what can go wrong? A review of the literature on sleep related disorders and abnormal sexual behaviors and experiences | journal = Sleep | volume = 30 | issue = 6 | pages = 683–702 | date = June 2007 | pmid = 17580590 | pmc = 1978350 | doi = 10.1093/sleep/30.6.683}}</ref> [[Rapid eye movement behavior disorder]] responds well to low doses of clonazepam.<ref name="pmid10996567">{{cite journal | vauthors = Ferini-Strambi L, Zucconi M | title = REM sleep behavior disorder | journal = Clinical Neurophysiology | volume = 111 | issue = Suppl 2 | pages = S136–140 | date = September 2000 | pmid = 10996567 | doi = 10.1016/S1388-2457(00)00414-4 | s2cid = 43692512 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Silber MH | title = Sleep disorders | journal = Neurologic Clinics | volume = 19 | issue = 1 | pages = 173–186 | date = February 2001 | pmid = 11471763 | doi = 10.1016/S0733-8619(05)70011-6 }}</ref> [[Restless legs syndrome]] can be treated using clonazepam as a third line treatment option as the use of clonazepam is still investigational.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Grupo Brasileiro de Estudos em Síndrome das Pernas Inquietas (GBE-SPI) | title = Síndrome das pernas inquietas: diagnóstico e tratamento. Opinião de especialistas brasileiros | trans-title = Restless legs syndrome: diagnosis and treatment. Opinion of Brazilian experts | language = pt | journal = Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria | volume = 65 | issue = 3A | pages = 721–727 | date = September 2007 | pmid = 17876423 | doi = 10.1590/S0004-282X2007000400035 | doi-access = free | title-link = doi | hdl = 11449/69841 | hdl-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Trenkwalder C, Hening WA, Montagna P, Oertel WH, Allen RP, Walters AS, Costa J, Stiasny-Kolster K, Sampaio C | title = Treatment of restless legs syndrome: an evidence-based review and implications for clinical practice | journal = Movement Disorders | volume = 23 | issue = 16 | pages = 2267–2302 | date = December 2008 | pmid = 18925578 | doi = 10.1002/mds.22254 | s2cid = 91440 | url = http://www.movementdisorders.org/publications/ebm_reviews/treatmentofrls.pdf | access-date = 19 January 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091229102940/http://www.movementdisorders.org/publications/ebm_reviews/treatmentofrls.pdf | archive-date = 29 December 2009 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Benzodiazepines are sometimes used for [[obsessive–compulsive disorder]] (OCD), although they are generally believed ineffective for this indication. Effectiveness was, however, found in one small study.<ref>{{cite book | title = The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychopharmacology | date = 2009 | edition = Fourth | publisher = American Psychiatric Publishing | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Xx7iNGdV25IC&pg=PA470 | isbn = 978-1-58562-309-9 | page = 470 | veditors = Schatzberg AF, Nemeroff CB }}</ref> Benzodiazepines can be considered as a treatment option in treatment resistant cases.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bandelow B | title = The medical treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety | journal = CNS Spectrums | volume = 13 | issue = 9 Suppl 14 | pages = 37–46 | date = September 2008 | pmid = 18849910 | doi = 10.1017/S1092852900026924 | s2cid = 26691595 }}</ref>
* [[Antipsychotics]] are generally a first-line treatment for delirium; however, when [[delirium]] is caused by alcohol or sedative hypnotic [[Drug withdrawal|withdrawal]], benzodiazepines are a first-line treatment.<ref name="Attard-2008">{{cite journal | vauthors = Attard A, Ranjith G, Taylor D | title = Delirium and its treatment | journal = CNS Drugs | volume = 22 | issue = 8 | pages = 631–644 | date = August 2008 | pmid = 18601302 | doi = 10.2165/00023210-200822080-00002 | s2cid = 94743 }}</ref>
* There is some evidence that low doses of benzodiazepines reduce adverse effects of [[electroconvulsive therapy]].<ref name="pmid22531198">{{cite journal | vauthors = Gallegos J, Vaidya P, D'Agati D, Jayaram G, Nguyen T, Tripathi A, Trivedi JK, Reti IM | title = Decreasing adverse outcomes of unmodified electroconvulsive therapy: suggestions and possibilities | journal = The Journal of ECT | volume = 28 | issue = 2 | pages = 77–81 | date = June 2012 | pmid = 22531198 | doi = 10.1097/YCT.0b013e3182359314 | s2cid = 6423840 }}</ref>