National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) Practice Exam

The unique psychoactive effects of metabolites are a key factor contributing to the longer-lasting effects of benzodiazepines. When benzodiazepines are metabolized in the liver, they can be converted into active metabolites that retain psychoactive properties. These metabolites can have sedative, anxiolytic, or muscle relaxant effects, and because they circulate in the body after the parent drug has been eliminated, they extend the overall duration of action. This characteristic explains why some benzodiazepines, even after the original compound has been processed, can continue to exert effects over an extended period.

The other attributes mentioned do not directly influence the longer-lasting effects in the same way. For example, rapid metabolism generally would lead to shorter effects, while the combination with other drugs can alter the effects but does not inherently contribute to the lasting duration of a single drug's action. Additionally, the dosage form may affect the rate of absorption but does not determine how long the drug's effects persist once it's in the system. Thus, the presence of psychoactive metabolites is a crucial aspect that underlines the prolonged effects seen with certain benzodiazepines.