Scientists: Anti-Anxiety Drugs May be as Addictive as Heroin

By Eugene McCormick. Published on 02/16/2010 - 11:17am

According to the results of a new study conducted by researchers in the United States and Switzerland, popular anti-anxiety drugs such as Valium and Xanax have powerful "reward pathways" that can lead users to addiction.

Well-known medications in the benzodiazepine class of drugs, Valium and Xanax boost the action of a neurotransmitter in the brain, which then activates the gratification hormone known as dopamine. This is the same "reward pathway" that illegal drugs such as heroine activate.

Researchers believe that these findings, which were recently published in the journal "Nature", may help scientists develop a new generation of anti-anxiety drugs that would not be addictive. They hope to come up with similar drugs that bind to a different part of the brain while still offering the calming benefit of Valium without the addictive side effects.

Drug companies have tried to develop benzodiazepines that are not addictive, but to date their efforts have not been successful.

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Comments

Submitted by dgeedkg (not verified) on September 25, 2010 - 8:04pm

#1

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Submitted by Cindy (not verified) on December 5, 2010 - 8:29pm

#2

This is an amazing discovery. Right? job |ad|s-cape adjustable bed

Submitted by Chet (not verified) on December 6, 2010 - 4:30pm

#3

I could have told you this a long time ago. I have a friend who in my opinion does NOT have an addictive personality. He was prescribed a popular anti-anxiety pill, and he gave me his pills to hang onto. He told not to give him more than the recommended dosage prescribed. I couldn't believe what he was telling me. This guy is a scholar student, doesn't smoke, drink, or do any drugs besides the ones prescribed by a doctor. The only reason he went to the doctor in the first place was to use his deductible from his health insurance. Go figure, a doctor pushing pills, and an upstanding citizen becoming addicted to them. Never heard that one before.

Submitted by Frank (not verified) on December 27, 2010 - 7:21am

#4

Helps somebody, hurts others!I have just heard about it but don't undersatand what is the objectif!
Frank, www.canalscore.com

Submitted by Dalle (not verified) on December 28, 2010 - 8:41am

#5

I guess that's a fact we should all be aware of a long time ago. Now that we know the truth about these prescription drugs what's next? We need to find a strategy to lower the danger of addiction, our nation is already struggling with heavy addiction rates at the moment.
Dalle, drug rehab San Francisco

Submitted by joshhusten (not verified) on January 18, 2011 - 5:49am

#6

This would be very dangerous for the health as it would be working as a slow poison for our body.

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