Clorazepate and lorazepam: clinical improvement and rebound anxiety.
Sixty-two anxious patients were treated under double-blind conditions for 4 weeks with either clorazepate or lorazepam. Two-thirds of each treatment group were then switched abruptly to placebo for 2 weeks, while one-third continued to receive active medication. Two major findings were obtained. About 70% of the patients maintained improvement during the 2-week placebo period. Some patients, however, experienced rebound anxiety, which appeared to be more intense and occurred earlier when placebo was substituted for a benzodiazepine with a short half-life (lorazepam) than for one with a long half-life (clorazepate). The clinical relevance of these findings is discussed.
D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003009:Clorazepate Dipotassium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D003009:Clorazepate Dipotassium; D008140:Lorazepam