title: Lorazepam discontinuation promotes 'inverse agonist' effects of benzodiazepines.
abstract: 1. The effects of lorazepam discontinuation on responses to benzodiazepine agonists and antagonists were studied in mice. 2. The convulsant dose of pentylenetetrazol was decreased after an acute dose of lorazepam (0.5 mg kg-1) at 4 days after drug discontinuation, compared to 1 or 7 days after discontinuation or to vehicle treatment. 3. The percentage of mice undergoing convulsions after an acute dose of FG 7142 (40 mg kg-1) was increased at 4 days after lorazepam discontinuation, compared to 1 or 7 days after discontinuation or to vehicle treatment. 4. After an acute dose (0.5 mg kg-1), lorazepam concentrations in cortex tended to be greater in lorazepam-treated compared to vehicle-treated mice at 4 days after discontinuation compared to 1 and 7 days. 5. These data indicate a shift toward reduced agonist sensitivity and increased inverse agonist sensitivity in mice 4 days after lorazepam discontinuation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schatzki
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Greenblatt
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Shader
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002243:Carbolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002243:Carbolines; C035874:FG 7142; D008140:Lorazepam