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In recent years, patients, lay publications, and consumer groups have expressed concern about whether benzodiazepines are overprescribed. Psychiatrists have raised questions about the potential for these medications—especially some of the newer, high-potency, short half-life compounds—to produce serious side effects as well as to induce drug dependence.
Benzodiazepine Dependence, Toxicity, and Abuse provides clinicians with a review of the available information on the potential hazards of benzodiazepine treatment and offers suggestions for the rational prescription of these medications.
Clinical pharmacology of benzodiazepines. Patterns of benzodiazepine use. Physiological dependence on benzodiazepines. Risk factors for clinically important physiological benzodiazepine dependence. Treatment of benzodiazepine discontinuance symptoms. Mechanism of benzodiazepine dependence and tolerance. Benzodiazepine toxicity. Abuse liability of benzodiazepines. Conclusions. Prescribing guidelines. References. Additional readings.