Most soporifics and sedatives prescribed in Luxembourg are benzodiazepines and similar medications, such as the so-called “Z drugs” (see table)
Main active ingredient
- See table
Legal status
- Legal
- Only available on prescription
Forms of consumption
- Orally (tablets, capsules, drops)
- Intervenous injection (under medical supervision)
Onset and duration of effect
- Orally
- Differs according to drug
- Onset: after 15–60 minutes
- Duration: 1–48 hours
- Injection
- Onset: after a few minutes
- Duration: differs according to drug, 1–48 hours
Effects
- Decreases nervousness
- Reduces anxiety
- Soporific
- Muscle relaxant
- Antiepileptic and amnesic
Risks and side effects
- Fatigue, dejection and drowsiness
- Emotional lethargy
- Impaired perceptive faculty and ability to react with risk of suggestibility, amnesia
- Loss of libido
- Paradoxical effects (disinhibition, irritability)
- Dizziness and difficulty walking
- Breathing difficulties
- Risk of falling and accidents
Long-term risks
- Dependence
- Abuse and misuse
- Problems concentrating
- Memory disorders
- Anxiety
- Depression
Good to know …
- Taking soporifics and sedatives can lead to accustoming or cause addiction. It is therefore recommended to stop taking these drugs after 8 to 12 weeks for anxiety (except certain molecules limited to 2 to 4 weeks) and 2 to 4 weeks for transitional insomnia. Prolonged use should only be considered in special cases that are medically justified (and under medical supervision).
- If you are using sedatives or soporifics over a protracted period, speak to your doctor about it. They can go into any issues and advise about further treatment, or progressively reduce dosage in view of coming off the medication.
- Combined use with other substances with a depressant effect such as alcohol, cannabis or barbiturates, increases the risks and the danger of an overdose and undesirable side effects.
- A doctor should be consulted if you are pregnant. Soporifics and sedatives pass though the placental barrier, i.e. pass from mother to child.
- Soporifics and sedatives pose greater risks for the over- 65s than for younger people: the effect is typically more pronounced and also lasts longer, not least because the body takes longer to eliminate medication. The treatment may need to be adapted.
Do soporifics improve sleep quality?
- The natural need for sleep reduces the older one gets, artificially extending sleep is therefore frequently not required.
- Soporifics and sedatives induce sleep and their primary effect is at nightfall. But they do not improve sleep quality.
Coming off medications – but how?
- When coming off soporifics or sedatives that have been taken over an extended period, “rebound” effects resembling the original symptoms of anxiety or sleep disorders may be experienced for a period of several days.
- Abruptly coming off medications can cause withdrawal symptoms that are occasionally associated with severe health risks.
This is why you should never come off soporifics and sedatives abruptly without first consulting your doctor!
Driving under the influence of medications?
The use of soporifics and sedatives increases the risk of traffic accidents. Even during the day, they can result in increased fatigue, balance disorders and difficulty concentrating.
In the circumstances it is strongly advised not to drive or operate machinery.
Benzodiazepines and related substances available in Luxembourg (01 July 2024)
Active ingredient | Trade name |
ALPRAZOLAM | ALPRAZ ALPRAZOLAM EG ALPRALOZAM IBSA XANAX XANAX RETARD |
BROMAZEPAM | BROMAZEPAM EG LEXOTAN |
BROTIZOLAM | LENDORMIN |
CLOBAZAM | FRISIUM CLOBAZAM |
CLONAZEPAM | RIVOTRIL |
CLORAZEPAT | TRANXENE UNI TRANXENE |
CLOTIAZEPAM | CLOZAN |
DIAZEPAM | DIAZEPAM EG DIAZETOP VALIUM |
FLUNITRAZEPAM | FLUNITRAZEPAM EG |
LOFLAZEPAT | VICTAN |
LOPRAZOLAM | DORMONOCT |
LORAZEPAM | LABUTRIX LORAZEPAM EG TEMESTA TEMESTA EXPIDET |
LORMETAZEPAM | LORAMET LORMETAZEPAM EG |
MIDAZOLAM | MIDAZOLAM BUCCOLAM |
NITRAZEPAM | MOGADON |
NORDAZEPAM | CALMDAY |
OXAZEPAM | OXAZEPAM EG |
PRAZEPAM | LYSANXIA PRAZEPAM EG |
TRIAZOLAM | HALCION |
ZOLPIDEM | STILNOCT ZOLPIDEM EG ZOLPEDUAR ZOLPITOP ZOLPIDEM VIATRIS |
ZOPICLON | IMOVANE ZOPICLONE EG |
There is no such thing as a risk-free consumption of legal and illegal drugs!
When consuming any legal and / or illegal drug, the subjectively perceived effects depend on various factors (how consumed, dose, age, gender, environment, mood as well as experience and expectation).
Consumption of any drug can result in addiction.
The consumption of legal and illegal drugs is to be discouraged:
- During adolescence (physical and mental development)
- When driving and during other activities requiring a “clear head” (e.g. sport, when operating machinery, …)
- At the workplace / at school
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding
- If there are previous medical conditions
Particular care is also required:
- If the quality of the product is unknown and cannot be checked
- In the event of combined use, e.g. alcohol and other drug
- When medication is taken at the same time
If you notice that a person is not well after having consumed legal or illegal drugs, act responsibly and look after that person. If in doubt, phone the emergency number and administer first aid.