175 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 17 No. 01 January’18 Brief Communication The irrational ofering of benzodiazepines by medicine shops in Bangladesh: Recommends implementation of retail pharmacy as soon as possible Jakaria M 1 , Rahman A 2 , Rahat MRU 3 , Islam M 4 , Clinton CD 5 , Talukder MB 6 , IslamvMS 7 , Sayeed MA 8 , Rashid MA 9 Abstract As controlled drugs, benzodiazepines are one of the most familiar prescription drugs. This present study was designed to determine the proportion of medicine shops that irrationally ofered benzodiazepines without prescription in the Chittagong division of Bangladesh. A cross- sectional study on the sample of 563 medicine shops was conducted from July 2015 to August 2015. A simulated client methodology was used to complete this survey. Among the total 539 medicine shops, 237(43.97%) medicine shops were ofered benzodiazepines. On the other hand, 302(56.02%) medicine shops were denied to sell benzodiazepines. The ofering of controlled drugs without the prescription was terrifyingly high by medicine shops in the Chittagong division. Thus, the responsible authority should be taken steps to overcome this irrationality. Keywords: Benzodiazepines, medicine shops, prescription and irrationality. Correspondence to: Md. Jakaria, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Interna- tional Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC), Chittagong 4314, Bangladesh pharmajakaria@rocketmail.com 1. Md. Jakaria 2. Atiqur Rahman 3. Mohammad Rasib Uddin Rahat 4. Mukimul Islam 5. Chayan Dhar Clinton 6. Mohammad Belal Talukder 7. Md. Shariful Islam 8. Mohammed Abu Sayeed Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC), Chittagong 4314, Bangladesh 9. Mohammad Abdur Rashid, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 17 No. 01 January’18. Page : 175-177 Introduction Benzodiazepines are one of the most ordinary prescription drugs used as medically and non- medically. 1 They enhance the efect of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at the GABA A receptor, resulting in sedative, hypnotic (sleep-inducing), anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties. 2,3 Benzodiazepines may be categorizing into three major categories, namely short, intermediate, or long-acting. The short and intermediate-acting benzodiazepines are preferred for the treatment of insomnia, whereas longer-acting benzodiazepines are suggested for the treatment of anxiety-like disorder. 4 In elevated doses, various shorter-acting benzodiazepines may also cause anterograde amnesia and dissociation. These types of properties make benzodiazepines useful in treating several medical conditions like anxiety, insomnia, agitation, seizures, muscle spasms, alcohol withdrawal together with as a premedication for medical or dental procedures. 5 The non-medical use of benzodiazepine drugs is recognized as misuse or abuse. The make use of benzodiazepines without a prescription often for recreational purposes which possess risks of dependence, withdrawal and other long-term efects. 6,7,8 In terms of recreational use, benzodiazepines are usually administered orally but sometimes they are taken