Drugs for the relief of anxiety. They will induce sleep when given in large doses at night, as will HYPNOTICS. Most hypnotics will sedate when given in divided doses during the day. Prescription of these drugs is widespread, but physical and psychological DEPENDENCE occurs as well as TOLERANCE to their effects, especially among those with personality disorders or who abuse drugs and alcohol. This is particularly true of the BARBITURATES which are now rarely used but also applies to the BENZODIAZEPINES, the most commonly used anxiolytics and hypnotics. Withdrawal syndromes may occur if drug treatment is stopped too abruptly; hypnotic sedatives and anxiolytics are therefore recommended to be prescribed in short courses. Among the anxiolytics are the widely used benzodiazepines, the rarely used barbiturates, and the occasionally prescribed drugs such as BUSPIRONE and betablockers like OXPRENOLOL (see BETA-ADRENOCEPTOR-BLOCKING DRUGS (BETA BLOCKERS)).