COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF DIAZEPAM, FLUMAZENIL AND BUSPIRONE ON BENZODIAZEPINE WITHDRAWAL ANXIETY

Although it is known that tolerance develops to the anxiolytic effect of diazepam and a spontaneous withdrawal anxiogenesis appears followin g cessation of chronic drug administration, not only the mechanism by how tolerance develops but the extent of effects and the mechanism of action of drugs on withdrawal anxiety are not yet clearly defined. In the present study, a dose dependent anxiolytic effect of diazepam was shown via Elevated Plus Maze. While buspirone produced a significant a nxiolysis flumazenil had no effect on the parameters studied, in naive rats. Not only tolerance development to the anxiolytic effect of diaz epam but a significant withdrawal anxiety was shown in chronically dia zepam treated rats. Diazepam was found to produce a significant anxiol ysis against withdrawal anxiety, but buspirone, flumazenil and buspiro ne-flumazenil combination were all found to reverse the withdrawal anx iety limited to the control base line level. Diazepam and flumazenil c ombination was also found to produce a significant anxiolysis but not as potent as diazepam.