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Benzodiazepines

The most commonly prescribed anti-anxiety drug belongs to a family of drugs known as benzodiazepines (BZs). These are known as minor tranquillizers, and include trade names such as Librium and Valium. Anti-anxiety drugs decrease arousal and relax the body by reducing tension in the muscles. Since the stress response involves high arousal, benzodiazepines may, in some cases, reduce stress.