Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines are sedatives that can help relax your muscles and calm your mind. They work by increasing the effects of certain neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that relay messages between your brain cells. Benzodiazepines help treat many kinds of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Examples of these drugs include: alprazolam (Xanax) chlordiazepoxide (Librium) clonazepam (Klonopin) diazepam (Valium) lorazepam (Ativan)