Benzodiazepines
1
Benzodiazepines Withdrawal syndromes after therapeutic doses Withdrawal symptoms after stopping therapeutic doses ofbenzodiazepines were reported to the World Conference on Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics on August 5 by Dr P.l. Tyrer. In a recently completed study in 40 patients a withdrawal syndrome occurred in a 'substanital minority' of patients who abruptly stopped diazepam (a long acting drug) or lorazepam (a short acting drug) after at least 4 months' use. Lorazepam caused more serious symptoms than diazepam. Propranolol did not have a clinically significant effect on symptoms. After 2 weeks' follow-up, J groups of patients were identified: Those whose condition did not change. o( improved, after withdrawal 02.5 ox.); Those whose former anxiety symptoms gradually increased; PatienL<; with a 'withdrawal syndrome'. including symptoms such as muscle twitching and pain. extreme dysphoria. persistent headache or sensory changes (27 -45 'X;. depending on criteria used). Another doctor at the conference believed that probably all benzodiazepines can produce withdrawal effects. lasting up to a week. He suggested (hat patients on these drugs should be reassessed after I month and should continue the medication only if there are convincing clinical reasons. The Committee on the Review of Medicines recently recommended gradual withdrawal of benzodiazepines. PharmaceulicaIJ(lurnaI21S, Eight cases reported Eight cases of benzodiazepine withdrawal syndromes were seen in a general psychiatric hospital in the last quarter of 1979. They all occurred in patients who had been un prescribed therapeutic doses for periods ranging from 4 weeks to 10 years. Symptoms included acute organic brain syndrome (3 patients), grand mal convulsions (I) and abstinence syndromes (4) including agitation, depression, depersonalization, sleep disturbances, 'shakes', headache. paresthesia and cerebellar signs. The patients, aged 21-61 . were 2 men and 6 women. They wereall keen to stop the drugs and several had unsuccessfully attempted this on their own. Only I had any desire to use the drugs again in the short term. Except for the patient with convulsions. they had increased their dosage over a period of time tn obtain the same relief Khan. 1\. et aL New Zealand Medical Journal 92, 94 C-\ug lJ. 19801 0157-7271/80/0905-0003/0$00.50/0 C> ADIS Press ReactionsSep 51980 3
Transcript of Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines
Withdrawal syndromes after therapeutic doses Withdrawal symptoms after stopping therapeutic doses ofbenzodiazepines were reported to the World Conference on Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics on August 5 by Dr P.l. Tyrer. In a recently completed study in 40 patients a withdrawal syndrome occurred in a 'substanital minority' of patients who abruptly stopped diazepam (a long acting drug) or lorazepam (a short acting drug) after at least 4 months' use. Lorazepam caused more serious symptoms than diazepam. Propranolol did not have a clinically significant effect on symptoms. After 2 weeks' follow-up, J groups of patients were identified: Those whose condition did not change. o( improved, after withdrawal 02.5 ox.);
Those whose former anxiety symptoms gradually increased; PatienL<; with a 'withdrawal syndrome'. including symptoms such as muscle twitching and pain. extreme dysphoria. persistent headache or sensory changes (27 -45 'X;. depending on criteria used). Another doctor at the conference believed that probably all benzodiazepines can produce withdrawal effects. lasting up to a week. He suggested (hat patients on these drugs should be reassessed after I month and should continue the medication only if there are convincing clinical reasons. The Committee on the Review of Medicines recently recommended gradual withdrawal of benzodiazepines. PharmaceulicaIJ(lurnaI21S, ISMIAug9.I~KOI
Eight cases reported Eight cases of benzodiazepine withdrawal syndromes were seen in a general psychiatric hospital in the last quarter of 1979. They all occurred in patients who had been un prescribed therapeutic doses for periods ranging from 4 weeks to 10 years. Symptoms included acute organic brain syndrome (3 patients), grand mal convulsions (I) and abstinence syndromes (4) including agitation, depression, depersonalization, sleep disturbances, 'shakes', headache. paresthesia and cerebellar signs. The patients, aged 21-61 . were 2 men and 6 women. They wereall keen to stop the drugs and several had unsuccessfully attempted this on their own. Only I had any desire to use the drugs again in the short term. Except for the patient with convulsions. they had increased their dosage over a period of time tn obtain the same relief Khan. 1\. et aL New Zealand Medical Journal 92, 94
C-\ug lJ. 19801
0157-7271/80/0905-0003/0$00.50/0 C> ADIS Press ReactionsSep 51980 3
