Effectiveness of alprazolam in the treatment of chronic pain: results of a preliminary study.
One hundred chronic pain patients were begun on alprazolam, 1.5 mg/day. No other medication changes or therapeutic interventions were made. Sixteen patients were lost to follow-up and 1 oncology patient died. Of the 83 patients who were evaluated at 12 weeks, 61 (73.5%) showed improvement, and only 5 had discontinued the medication because of side effects. The average score of all patients had decreased from 3.6 to 2.2 on a verbal analog scale that rated pain severity from 0 to 5. There was no difference in response among the various diagnostic groups represented in the study population.
Westbrook
L
L
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Tennessee, Memphis.
Cicala
R S
RS
Wright
H
H
D000525:Alprazolam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000525:Alprazolam