[Gabapentin treatment in a female patient with panic disorder and adverse effects under carbamazepine during benzodiazepine withdrawal].
Despite their addictive potential, benzodiazepines belong to the most often prescribed drugs. We report on a patient with alprazolam dependence, who initially was treated with carbamazepine because of severe withdrawal symptoms. Due to liver enzyme elevation related to carbamazepine, we had to stop this treatment and instead of that started gabapentin treatment. Under this new therapy, the patient showed a dramatic relief of withdrawal symptoms and of the panic attacks recurring during withdrawal. Hence, due to their effectiveness and tolerability, newer anticonvulsants could be considered as medication for benzodiazepine withdrawal and as an alternative for benzodiazepine treatment in panic disorders.
Himmerich
Hubertus
H
Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, Kraepelinstrasse 10, 80804 Munich. himmerich@mpipsykl.mpg.de
Nickel
Thomas
T
Dalal
Mira A
MA
Müller
Marianne B
MB
D000368:Aged; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000588:Amines; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002220:Carbamazepine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin; D000525:Alprazolam