Definition: Benzodiazepines are a class of medications sometimes used over the short term to treat insomnia. They can induce sleep, but are more often used to treat anxiety. The generic name often ends with the suffix “-epam”, such as diazepam, lorazepam, or temazepam. There is a risk of developing tolerance or dependence with long-term use.
Examples: The doctor prescribed a benzodiazepine medication to treat my insomnia and told me to use it as infrequently as possible.
