BENZODIAZEPINE DEPENDENCE AND WITHDRAWAL - A REVIEW OF THE SYNDROME AND ITS CLINICAL MANAGEMENT

The treatment of anxiety has evolved through various phases. Currently , there is a growing recognition that anxiety disorders are frequently chronic and/or recurrent. There is also less optimism than a decade a go that benzodiazepines will be replaced by alternative agents that ar e not active at the benzodiazepine receptor. Consequently, the underst anding and management of benzodiazepine dependence and withdrawal cont inue to be of some clinical importance. This article briefly reviews t he withdrawal syndrome and the pharmacological and patient variables t hat contribute to it. It then summarizes the various approaches to man aging benzodiazepine dependence and withdrawal.