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- Title
Pregabalin in the discontinuation of long-term benzodiazepines' use.
- Authors
Oulis, Panagiotis; Konstantakopoulos, George; Kouzoupis, Anastasios V.; Masdrakis, Vasilios G.; Karakatsanis, Nikolaos A.; Karapoulios, Evangelos; Kontoangelos, Konstantinos A.; Papadimitriou, George N.
- Abstract
Objective Tolerance, dependence, and adverse effects on cognitive functions are well-known consequences of long-term use of benzodiazepines (BDZ), especially at high doses, raising thorny therapeutic problems in their discontinuation. One promising pharmacological agent in BDZ discontinuation might be the newer anti-epileptic pregabalin, already successfully tested in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Methods We report on a sample of 15 patients with long-term, mostly high-dose dependence from BDZ, treated with pregabalin in an open-label study at doses 225–900 mg. Results All patients discontinued successfully BDZ in 3–14 weeks, moreover with a significant reduction of their previous anxiety levels under BDZ. In addition, patients showed also a significant amelioration in their cognitive functioning. Pregabalin's side-effects were mild and transient, lasting only during the first 2 weeks of treatment. Conclusion Although preliminary, our findings suggest that pregabalin may be one new promising agent in the treatment of BDZ dependence. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Subjects
BENZODIAZEPINES; DRUG side effects; COGNITIVE ability; ANTICONVULSANTS; ANXIETY disorders
- Publication
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical & Experimental, 2008, Vol 23, Issue 4, p337
- ISSN
0885-6222
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/hup.937