Depressant effects may be dangerously augmented if more than one depressant drug is taken at a time, or if depressant drugs are taken together with alcohol or opiate-type drugs.
Individual benzodiazepines differ in speed of onset, duration of action and potency.
About 2000 benzodiazepines have been synthesized by the pharmaceutical industry. Benzodiazepines encountered on the illicit market are usually diverted from legitimate trade rather than synthesized in clandestine laboratories.