Pregabalin in the discontinuation of long-term benzodiazepines' use

✍ Scribed by Panagiotis Oulis; George Konstantakopoulos; Anastasios V. Kouzoupis; Vasilios G. Masdrakis; Nikolaos A. Karakatsanis; Evangelos Karapoulios; Konstantinos A. Kontoangelos; George N. Papadimitriou

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 52 KB
• Volume: 23
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6222
• DOI: 10.1002/hup.937

✦ Synopsis

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.