Benzodiazepines, or “benzos” as they are called, are what the American government refers to as Schedule IV drugs. This means that the government recognizes the useful medical properties these drugs have and the comparatively low addiction risk they present compared to other drugs. However, Schedule IV drugs are powerful enough to require a prescription from a doctor to be acquired and used, unlike acetaminophen in Tylenol or ibuprofen in Advil, which can be bought in stores by anyone.

While some doctors prescribe benzodiazepine medications straight away, other doctors feel more comfortable with a psychological evaluation first before a decision is made about administering it due to the psychoactive nature of the drug.  Benzodiazepine medications available in the U.S. are:

• Xanax (alprazolam)
• Klonopin (clonazepam)
• Ativan (lorazepam)
• Valium  (diazepam)
• Librium (chlordiazepoxide)
• Restoril (temazepam)
• Versed (midazolam)
• Halcion (triazolam)
• Dalmane (flurazepam)
• Tranxene (clorazepate)
• Serax (oxazepam)
• Doral (quazepam)