Benzodiazepines are a type of prescription sedative commonly prescribed for anxiety or to help with insomnia. Benzodiazepines (sometimes called “benzos”) work to calm or sedate a person, by raising the level of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in the brain.
Common benzodiazepines include diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and clonazepam (Klonopin), and Ativan (Lorazepam)