Off-Label Use of Medications for Treatment of Benzodiazepine Use Disorder.

Abstract

There is a high rate of benzodiazepine use in the population. Benzodiazepines are used for multiple indications (anxiety, seizures, alcohol withdrawal, muscular relaxation and anesthesia). Benzodiazepines are also addictive substances and a non-negligible fraction of regular users will develop dependence. There is currently no approved pharmacotherapy for benzodiazepine use disorder treatment and optimal strategies for treatment are unclear. In this review, we aimed to summarize the findings on off-label pharmacologic therapy that have been used for BZD dependence. One classical approach is to provide a slow taper associated with counseling. Anti-epileptic drugs appear also to alleviate symptoms of withdrawal. The long-term strategies of maintenance therapy (with benzodiazepine) or of blocking therapy (with a GABA antagonist such as flumazenil) could provide some clinical benefit but have not yet been tested appropriately. Pregabalin appears promising and deserves further investigation. There is a clear need for more clinical trials in this area to improve care.

• Authors: Pamela Sabioni, Jonathan Bertram, Bernard Le Foll
• Journal: Current pharmaceutical design (Curr Pharm Des) Vol. 21 Issue 23 Pg. 3306-10 ( 2015) ISSN: 1873-4286 [Electronic] United Arab Emirates
• PMID: 26088120 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• GABA Antagonists
• Psychotropic Drugs
• Benzodiazepines

Topics

• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Benzodiazepines
• GABA Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Inappropriate Prescribing
• Off-Label Use
• Patient Safety
• Practice Patterns, Physicians'
• Psychotropic Drugs (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Risk Assessment
• Risk Factors
• Substance Withdrawal Syndrome (drug therapy, psychology)
• Substance-Related Disorders (diagnosis, drug therapy, psychology)
• Treatment Outcome