Street Names:
Unknown.

Description:
Scored white tablets marked "0.5" on one side and "w" on the other (.5 mg.), marked "1" on one side and "Ativan" on the other (1 mg.), and marked "2" on one side and "Ativan on the other (2 mg.).  Also available in green sublingual tablets marked "0.5" on one side and "w" on the other (.5 mg.), marked "1" (1 mg.), and in blue sublingual tablets marked "2" (2 mg.)

Origin and Medical Uses:
Similar to barbiturates and barbiturate-like drugs.  Introduced as tranquilizers because they produce calm without sleepiness.  Replaced barbiturates in the treatment of many disorders.  Usually prescribed to treat anxiety and nervousness, relax muscle tension, and control certain types of muscle spasm.

Short Term Effects:
Relaxed muscle tension, mildly impaired coordination and balance, reduced mental alertness and emotional reactions, feeling of well-being, and a loss of inhibition.  On rare occasions paradoxical reactions such as rage, persoity changes, and sleep disturbances occur.  Side effects such as skin rashes, nausea, and dizziness have been reported.  Driving motor vehicles and operating machinery should be avoided by those taking tranquilizers.  It is particularly hazardous to take them together with alcohol, other sedatives, antihistamines, or cold, cough and allergy remdies.  (See synergism.)

Long Term Effects:
Some tranquilizers accumulate in body tissues during sustained use.  Prolonged use may lead to increased aggressiveness in some users.  Pregnant women should not use tranquilizers; diazepam has been found to accumulate in babies' liver, brain, heart and lungs. These babies may show withdrawal symptoms after birth.

Tolerance and Dependence:
Regular use induces tolerance, making increased doses necessary to produce the desired effect.  Since less tolerance develops to harmful effects rather than to desirable effects, margin between effective dose and lethal dose gradually narrows.  Psychological dependence can occur with regular use, as can physical dependence.  Withdrawal symptoms include sleeplessness, sweating, stomach cramps, agitation, tremors, delirium, convulsions, and even death.  Some people think these drugs are harmless because signs of addiction in users are not always apparent.

Sources:

(1).  Straight Facts About Drugs & Drug Abuse, Revised Edition, Health and Welfare Canada, copyright Minister of Supply and Services Canada, 1990

(2).  Drugs and Alcohol Behaviour: An Introduction to Behavioral Pharmacology, Second Edition, by William A. McKim, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Prentice Hall, 1991

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