[Benzodiazepines still play a role in modern psychiatric therapy]

Ugeskr Laeger. 2017 Sep 4;179(36):V04170274.
[Article in Danish]

Abstract

Benzodiazepines (BZ) are widely used for anxiety across psychiatric diagnoses, but for the last decades regulation has been increasingly tight due to problems with tolerance, addiction, withdrawal symptoms and cognitive side effects. Some guidelines claim that BZ only work for a few weeks, and that BZ cause traffic accidents, increased mortality and dementia. In Denmark, the use of BZ has been substantially reduced. In this article it is argued, that not all patients habituate, that most of the epidemiological findings are hampered by confounding, and that there still is a role for long-term use of BZ in the treatment of anxiety.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Anxiety Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Benzodiazepines / adverse effects
  • Benzodiazepines / therapeutic use*
  • Denmark
  • Drug Prescriptions / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Risk Factors
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Benzodiazepines