Benzodiazepines

Prescription medication. Usually prescribed by doctors for short-term relief of stress and anxiety and to help people sleep. Typically swallowed in tablet form. Can also be crushed/snorted, injected, or shelved.

This is a guide only – know more, be safer.

Effects on the Brain

How Benzodiazepines makes you feel

Relaxed, sleepy, happy, depressed, confused.

Effects on the Body

What Benzodiazepines does to your body

Depends on your size/weight and health, if you’re used to taking it, if other drugs are taken around the same time, amount taken, and drug strength. You might experience dry mouth, double or blurred vision, slurred speech, stuttering, impaired thinking and coordination, dizziness, tremors, headache, sleepiness, nausea, diarrhea or constipation. 

Drug Duration Calculator
Staying Safe

How long does Benzodiazepines last?

Effects last
Varies depending on the type
Stays in your system for
In system
Saliva test: Less than 24 hours. Urine test: Up to 2 weeks
No longer detectable in your system
Clear
2+ weeks

Depends on:

Depends on:

  • Your Size/Weight
  • Tolerance to the drug
  • Drug Strength
  • Type of test. These time frames are based on saliva and urine drug tests. Testing equipment can vary - this is a guide only.

How do you stay below 0.05? (This is a guide only)

Men average size: No more than 2 standard drinks in the first hour and 1 drink per hour after that.

Women average size: No more than 1 standard drink per hour.

Mixing Substances

Risks of mixing Benzodiazepines with other substances

Mixing benzos with other drugs can have unpredictable effects and increase the risk of harm.

Low risk icon

Lower Risk Substances

Moderate risk icon

Moderate Risk Substances

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High Risk Substances

Potential Side Effects

When you take too much Benzodiazepines

Slowed breathing

Sleepiness

Jitteriness

Mood swings

Aggression

Passing out

Staying Safe

Risks when taking the substance

  • Increased risk of falls and injury
  • May be dangerous for people with acute asthma, emphysema, sleep apnoea, and advanced liver or kidney disease
  • Linked to addiction and withdrawal, even after short time using
  • And, in the long term, benzos are linked to mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
  • Designer benzos aka “unregistered benzos” or “novel benzos” often look like benzodiazepine meds but can include substances that are different/not approved as well as other drugs. Because they aren’t regulated, they can have varying strengths and different or harmful effects.
Staying Safe

Harm reduction

  • Always take prescription benzodiazepines as prescribed.
  • Speak to your doctor about safety when driving or operating machinery.
  • Designer benzos can be unpredictable in strength, try small amount first – wait at least an hour before trying more
  • Even if two pills look the same (e.g., designer benzos), they may contain different ingredients or have different strengths.
  • Don’t use benzos alone – have a someone nearby who can help you if you need medical help
  • Know how long benzos stays in your system so you’ll know when it’s safer to drive, be on site or work machinery.

If snorting:

  • Make sure the drug is crushed into a fine powder, so it doesn’t cause cuts
  • Don’t use bank notes to snort, have your own straw or spoon so you can avoid infection and blood borne viruses
  • Snorting drugs repeatedly over time can injure the nose, remember to take breaks
  • You can snort water before and after use to reduce infection risk.