Innovative Treatments of Anxiety, Part 1 (Use of Benzodiazepines)
Mark H. Pollack, MD, Rush University Medical Center
Benzodiazepines are effective, well-tolerated, have a rapid onset of action, and can be used as needed for situational anxiety, although they are associated with sedation, psychomotor impairment, physical dependence, and adverse interactions with alcohol. All benzodiazepines are effective for generalized anxiety disorder, but for maintenance treatment, consider a longer-acting agent. Consider combining benzodiazepines with antidepressants for rapid relief of anxiety while antidepressants begin to work, to treat residual anxiety, or to decrease early anxiety associated with antidepressant treatment. Reported increase in overdose mortality likely is conflation with other drugs of abuse, particularly opioids. Dr. Pollack ended his presentation by reviewing the use of tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and other antidepressants for anxiety disorders.
