USE OF ANTICONVULSANTS IN BENZODIAZEPINE WITHDRAWAL

The problem of dependence on benzodiazepines has been aggravated by ia trogenic physiologic dependence on these medications and by polysubsta nce abusing patients using them in addition to other agents. A safe, r apid, and effective way to detoxify patients from benzodiazepines is o f prime importance to facilitate further treatment of their psychiatri c or substance use disorder. Patients withdrawing from these agents ma y experience physiologic withdrawal, rebound, and recurrence. In this paper the authors review the typical syndrome associated with withdraw al from benzodiazepines and discuss treatment of benzodiazepine withdr awal using carbamazepine and valproate.