Sleep Meds: Benzodiazepines | What You Need to Know

This video continues our series on sleep videos and begins our coverage on sleep medications. Our series will cover the various categories of sleep medications that are commonly prescribed in America, beginning with today's video on benzodiazepines. You probably are already familiar with the names of several benzodiazpines:

alprazolam aka Xanax
lorazepam aka Ativan
clonazepam aka Klonopin
diazepam aka Valium

Today, we will have a candid discussion on the potential risks and pitfalls of chronic usage of benzodiazepines and in particular highlight the risk of potential risk of developing a tolerance and dependence on benzodiazepines and how that can lead to withdrawal effects.

The point of this video is not to be judgmental or demonize the usage of benzodiazepines. As a psychiatrist, I prescribe them and utilize them as a tool. But, the purpose is to help viewers become as informed and educated about the facts and potential risks of what they are putting into their bodies so you can make the most informed decisions about your health as possible.

If you haven't already, please check out my video on sleep hygiene and sleep tips. And please subscribe and stay tuned for followup videos on other categories of sleep medications as well.

Thank you for your support and encouragement as always.

~Dr. Andrew Kim MD
Board Certified Psychiatrist

Remember this video is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes and should NOT be taken as personal medical advice. I am NOT your doctor.

Please submit other educational topics and questions you would like to hear me discuss in upcoming videos, video podcasts, and my "Ask Dr. Kim" series. Please submit general topic requests or questions. Please do not submit specific, personal medical questions, as I will not respond to those, as I am not your doctor.

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**Disclosures: At the time of creating this video, Dr. Andrew Kim M.D. was an independent contractor on the Janssen Speakers Bureau and works as a Principal Investigator on FDA clinical trials for pharmaceutical sponsors. **