benzodiazepine

noun ben·zo·di·az·e·pine \ ˌben-zō-dī-ˈa-zə-ˌpēn \

|Updated on: 5 Jul 2018

Definition of benzodiazepine

: any of a group of aromatic lipophilic amines (such as diazepam and chlordiazepoxide) used especially as tranquilizers

Recent Examples of benzodiazepine from the Web

The first drug, midazolam, is a benzodiazepine - like Xanax or Valium.

— keri blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "Arkansas death row inmates want to know where Texas gets its death drugs," 26 June 2018
This category includes benzodiazepines, anti-anxiety medicines and steroids.

— The Economist, "High and mighty," 21 June 2018
This is not the first time that an overlap between opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions has been identified.

— mark lieber, CNN, "Drop in new opioid prescriptions to benzodiazepine patients could reduce overdoses, study suggests," 13 Apr. 2018
Those drugs include cocaine, amphetamines and benzodiazepines, which are primarily used to manage anxiety.

— jasper scherer, San Antonio Express-News, "Federal grant would fund next chapter of San Antonio area’s opioid task force," 5 June 2018
Whites, meanwhile, are more likely than blacks and Hispanics to die with benzodiazepines (tranquilizers) in their bodies.

— felice j. freyer, BostonGlobe.com, "Opioid overdose deaths continue to decline in Mass., but chiefly among whites," 22 May 2018
The new report also found that nearly 80% of deaths involving synthetic opioids also involved other drugs, including other opioids (50%), cocaine (22%), benzodiazepines (17%), alcohol (11%) and antidepressants (5%).

— mark lieber, CNN, "Synthetics now killing more people than prescription opioids, report says," 1 May 2018
The woman also tested positive for marijuana and benzodiazepine, an anti-anxiety medication, according to records.

— samie gebers, azcentral, "Records: Woman in fatal West Valley crash admitted drinking, pot use," 23 Apr. 2018
An autopsy shows Bartley died of acute alcohol intoxication and abuse of benzodiazepines, a drug typically prescribed to treat anxiety and insomnia last year, the Associated Press reports.

— cliff pinckard, cleveland.com, "Ohio woman gives teen vodka, now faces charges in his death, reports say," 22 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'benzodiazepine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.