Adjunctive treatment of benzodiazepine discontinuation syndromes: a review.
The variety of pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic approaches to facilitate benzodiazepine discontinuation are reviewed. Strategies to attenuate physiologic withdrawal with clonidine, propranolol and carbamazepine have been inconsistently effective. Strategies to prevent relapse by substituting medications that could later be discontinued more easily (i.e., antidepressants and azapirones) appear more useful but have been less well studied. Psychotherapeutic approaches appear to work, but specific therapeutic components are unclear and non-specific "placebo" effects may play an important role.
Roy-Byrne
P P
PP
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle.
Sullivan
M D
MD
Cowley
D S
DS
Ries
R K
RK
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003000:Clonidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002220:Carbamazepine; D011433:Propranolol; D003000:Clonidine