Relapse and rebound following discontinuation of benzodiazepine treatment of panic attacks: alprazolam versus diazepam.
The authors assessed the effects of partial tapering followed by abrupt discontinuation of alprazolam, diazepam, and placebo in 40 patients with panic attacks. The anxiety scores and frequency of panic attacks of the three groups did not differ at the end of the initial 2-week taper, but 1 week after abrupt discontinuation of the remaining medication, patients formerly taking alprazolam had greater increases in anxiety but no more panic attacks than did the other patients. Because of low statistical power, differences in benzodiazepine half-lives, absence of multiple ratings, and imbalances between groups in clinical characteristics, these findings must be viewed as preliminary.
Roy-Byrne
P P
PP
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Dager
S R
SR
Cowley
D S
DS
Vitaliano
P
P
Dunner
D L
DL
D000328:Adult; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010200:Panic / Q000187:drug effects*; D010919:Placebos; D012008:Recurrence; D013732:Test Anxiety Scale; D013997:Time Factors
D010919:Placebos; D003975:Diazepam; D000525:Alprazolam