title: Azapirones: an alternative to benzodiazepines for anxiety.
abstract: The azapirones are a relatively new class of psychotherapeutic drugs with both anxiolytic and antidepressant properties and a favorable benefit-to-risk ratio. They represent a significant advance in psychotherapeutic drug development. Buspirone, the only azapirone currently in clinical use, is a partial serotonin agonist with low abuse potential, no sedative effects, no cognitive or psychomotor impairment properties and no significant withdrawal symptoms. It is well-tolerated by elderly patients. Clinical indications for which buspirone is particularly appropriate are chronic anxiety and mixed anxiety/depression states. Buspirone has demonstrated some efficacy in the treatment of a broad range of other serotonin-related disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cadieux
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002065:Buspirone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002065:Buspirone