Welcome to BCNC Healthcare Professional Papers and Articles Section
Here you will find links to medical papers on addiction predominantly on the subject of benzodiazepines. This section is likely to be updated regularly so do keep checking this section for new additions. We created this section mainly for academics and professionals to view research papers on addiction.
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By Howard C. Becker, PHD
This research paper demonstrates that repeated periods of alcohol withdrawal enhances the intensity of withdrawal symptoms compared to alcoholics who are detoxing for the first time. They postulate a theory involving repeated abrupt termination of alcohol withdrawal hypersensitising and desensitising various receptor systems eg NMDA, glutamate and GABAa systems as playing a role.
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Research showing that long term chronic benzodiazepine use causes an increase in impulsive and aggressive behaviour compared to those who received behavioural psychotherapy.
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Gene Influences Severity of Withdrawal?
Could a gene be a factor in determining who experiences severe withdrawal symptoms from sedative-hypnotic, barbiturates and alcohol? Read this short article on some research scientists have recently done.
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Abuse of OTC drugs rising in South Asia
Benzodiazepines unfortunately are of grave concern in third world countries due to their freely availability over the counter and due to lack of education in the general population of the dangers of these drugs. Ganapati Mudur of New Delhi reports on the problem in south asia. She reports the 'war on drugs' is pushing drug abusers away from illegal drugs to high potency cheaper pharmaceutical drugs.
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Margot Nelson-Owen a prison medical officer ponders the consequences of widespread prescribing of addictive drugs to the youth of today.
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Benzodiazepine Half life and Equivilent doses Table
Click HERE to view a benzodiazepine half life and equivilent dose table. This is compiled by Professor Heather Ashton a psychopharmacologist who ran a benzodiazepine withdrawal clinic for several years.
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PROTRACTED WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
FROM BENZODIAZEPINESA comprohensive medical paper by Professor Heather Ashton detailing the protracted withdrawal syndrome of sedative-hypnotic drugs.
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Flumazenil's positive effect on persisting benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms
Professor Malcolm Lader did a very interesting study on flumazenil's effect on persisting benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms with surprising results.
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Benzact:- Benzodiazepine's during pregnancy
Sue Bibby has devoted many years of reviewing the medical evidence of benzodiazepine's and their effects during pregnancy. She has appeared on radio and television regarding this issue.
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Toward a Model of Psychological Support for People Withdrawing From Benzodiazepine Tranquilizers
Allison a psycology student and founding member of BCNC gives a detailed way forward in the management of benzodiazepine withdrawal from a psychological angle.
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Morecambe Bay PCT and the way forward for benzodiazepines
Morecambe Bay PCT (Primary Care Trust) through Andrea Loudon, Head of Pharmacy and medicine Management, and her team of Prescribing Support Pharmacists under the Project Leadership of Simon Butterworth, are in the process of developing an innovative approach to both benzodiazepine control and reduction in prescription medication. They are working on a "whole system" approach which involves prescribing, dispensing and the patient.
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BCNC Meets Professor Heather Ashton
BCNC attends a meeting with Professor Heather Ashton at the school of neuroscienes in Newcastle England. The rate of reduction was discussed of whether reductions in dosage should be done every 1 - 2 weeks or every 4 weeks. See the outcome of that meeting by clicking link above.
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BCNC involved in the external review of the latest edition of Prodigy guidance for Benzodiazepines / Z drugs
BCNC, through one of its' founder members, has been involved in the external review of the latest edition of PRODIGY guidance for Benzodiazepines / Z drugs. PRODIGY guidance is developed by clinicians and pharmacists for healthcare professionals.
BCNC and prodigy review and update of PILS
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British National Formulary Advice on Hypnotics and anxiolytics
BNF.ORG gives some good advice on management of benzodiazepine withdrawal as well as prescribing guidance. Included in guidance is what drugs should be avoided in withdrawal.
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David McKeown - House of Commons Speech
David McKeown speaks at the house of commons on the problem of presciption abuse of benzodiazepines and the enormous number of long term benzodiazepine prescriptions in the Belfast area which has the highest prescribing rates in the whole of the UK.
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Physical dependence on zopiclone: case reports
Ian R Jones, clinical research fellow, Gary Sullivan, senior registrar Division of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff CF4 4XN---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prescribing this drug to addicts may give rise to iatrogenic drug misuse
Two letters to the editor concerning the risks of physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms and the increasing popularity of zopiclone as a drug of abuse.
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Read Allan Weatherburns 'article outlaying proposals for one possible way of solving the problem of long-term prescription benzodiazepine and Z drug dependency.An article,by Allan, entitled" Prescription Benzodiazepines and Z Drugs.-The hidden Story," has been published in the November issue of the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP) in which he invites doctors to read this website article.
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BENZODIAZEPINES AND Z DRUGS: THE HIDDEN STORY
The agenda and presentations at the Cumbria PCT meeting on "Benzodiazepines and Z Drugs.-The Hidden Story.Actions for Cumbria" held at Penrith 30th Jan.2008
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