Anxiolytic efficacy and safety evaluation of high dosage oxazepam in patients with severe anxiety

✍ Scribed by John Karkalas; Dr. Harbans Lal

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1987
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 211 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0272-4391
• DOI: 10.1002/ddr.430100208

✦ Synopsis

Therapeutic efficacy of high doses of oxazepam was evaluated in highly anxious psychoneurotic, psychotic depressive and schizophrenic patients. Evaluation through Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Serax-lsosorbide Dinitrate Self Rating Scale, and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale showed significant reduction of anxiety states and improvement in the mental health of the patients. Doses up to 300 mg per day, often necessary in highly anxious patients, did not produce any serious side effect. Only a few of the 30 patients showed transient drowsiness andlor nausea. Unlike other benzodiazepines, central nervous system depression was not a limiting factor in the use of high doses of oxazepam in psychiatric conditions associated with high anxiety states. One patient continued to receive oxazepam 120 mg daily along with amitriptyline, 30 mg four times a day, and benztropine 2 mg thrice a day after the trial period. She developed an acute confusional state with disorientation and slurred speech. When oxazepam was discontinued, she developed an epileptiform seizure, which was controlled by reinstating oxazepam. Subsequently, oxazepam was gradually withdrawn.