Treatment of Diazepam Withdrawal Syndrome with Propranolol
- DARRELL R. ABERNETHY, M.D., Ph.D.;
- DAVID J. GREENBLATT, M.D.; and
- RICHARD I. SHADER, M.D.
Excerpt
True physiologic addiction to diazepam has been reliably described in isolated cases by documentation of a physical withdrawal syndrome characterized by agitation, tachycardia, and diaphoresis and, rarely, hallucinations, psychosis, and seizures (1). Although usually occurring after prolonged use of high doses, in one case a withdrawal syndrome occurred after abrupt withdrawal of diazepam after long-term use in a usual therapeutic dose (2). The present report describes a case of diazepam withdrawal syndrome after long-term ingestion of extremely high doses. The case was documented and the patient effectively treated with propranolol.
Plasma levels of diazepam and desmethyldiazepam, the biologically active demethylated
This 100-word excerpt has been provided in the absence of an abstract.
Article and Author Information
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Supported in part by grant MH-34223 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and grant 77-611 from the Foundations' Fund for Research in Psychiatry.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to David J. Greenblatt, M.D.; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Box 1007, New England Medical Center Hospital, 171 Harrison Avenue; Boston, MA 02111.
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