A-Textbook-of-Clinical-Pharmacology-and-Therapeutics-5th-edition
A-Textbook-of-Clinical-Pharmacology-and-Therapeutics-5th-edition
A-Textbook-of-Clinical-Pharmacology-and-Therapeutics-5th-edition
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ANXIETY 109<br />
Key points<br />
• Insomnia <strong>and</strong> anxiety are common. Most patients do not<br />
require drug therapy.<br />
• Benzodiazepines are indicated for the short-term relief<br />
(2–4 weeks only) <strong>of</strong> anxiety that is severe, disabling or<br />
subjecting the individual to unacceptable levels <strong>of</strong><br />
distress.<br />
• The use <strong>of</strong> benzodiazepines to treat short-term ‘mild’<br />
anxiety is inappropriate <strong>and</strong> unsuitable.<br />
• Benzodiazepines should be used to treat insomnia only<br />
when it is severe, disabling or subjecting the individual<br />
to extreme distress.<br />
• There is no convincing evidence to support the use <strong>of</strong><br />
non-benzodiazepine hypnotics <strong>and</strong> anxiolytics over<br />
benzodiazepines.<br />
FLUMAZENIL<br />
Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine antagonist. It can be used to<br />
reverse benzodiazepine sedation. It is short acting, so sedation<br />
may return. It can cause nausea, flushing, anxiety <strong>and</strong> fits, so<br />
is not routinely used in benzodiazepine overdose which seldom<br />
causes severe adverse outcome.<br />
OTHERS<br />
• Barbiturates are little used <strong>and</strong> dangerous in overdose.<br />
• Clomethiazole – causes conjunctival, nasal <strong>and</strong> gastric<br />
irritation. Useful as a hypnotic in the elderly because its<br />
short action reduces the risk <strong>of</strong> severe hangover, ataxia <strong>and</strong><br />
confusion the next day. It is effective in acute withdrawal<br />
syndrome in alcoholics, but its use should be carefully<br />
supervised <strong>and</strong> treatment limited to a maximum <strong>of</strong> nine<br />
days. It can be given intravenously to terminate status<br />
epilepticus. It can also be used as a sedative during<br />
surgery under local anaesthesia.<br />
• Zopiclone, zolpidem <strong>and</strong> zaleplon – are nonbenzodiazepine<br />
hypnotics which enhance GABA activity<br />
by binding to the GABA–chloride channel complex at the<br />
benzodiazepine-binding site. Although they lack structural<br />
features <strong>of</strong> benzodiazepines, they also act by potentiating<br />
GABA. Their addictive properties are probably similar to<br />
benzodiazepines.<br />
• Buspirone – is a 5HT 1A receptor partial agonist. Its use has<br />
not been associated with addiction or abuse, but may be a<br />
less potent anxiolytic than the benzodiazepines. Its<br />
therapeutic effects take much longer to develop (two to<br />
three weeks). It has mild antidepressant properties.<br />
• Cloral <strong>and</strong> derivatives – formerly <strong>of</strong>ten used in paediatric<br />
practice. Cloral shares properties with alcohol <strong>and</strong> volatile<br />
anaesthetics. Cloral derivatives have no advantages over<br />
benzodiazepines, <strong>and</strong> are more likely to cause rashes <strong>and</strong><br />
gastric irritation.<br />
• Sedative antihistamines, e.g. promethazine, are <strong>of</strong><br />
doubtful benefit, <strong>and</strong> may be associated with prolonged<br />
drowsiness, psychomotor impairment <strong>and</strong> antimuscarinic<br />
effects.<br />
BENZODIAZEPINES VS. NEWER DRUGS<br />
Since the advent <strong>of</strong> the newer non-benzodiazepine hypnotics<br />
(zopiclone, zolpidem <strong>and</strong> zaleplon), there has been much discussion<br />
<strong>and</strong> a considerable amount <strong>of</strong> confusion, as to which<br />
type <strong>of</strong> drug should be preferred. The National Institute for<br />
Health <strong>and</strong> <strong>Clinical</strong> Excellence (NICE) has given guidance<br />
based on evidence <strong>and</strong> experience. In essence,<br />
1. When hypnotic drug therapy is appropriate for severe<br />
insomnia, hypnotics should be prescribed for short<br />
periods only.<br />
2. There is no compelling evidence to distinguish between<br />
zaleplon, zolpidem, zopiclone or the shorter-acting<br />
benzodiazepine hypnotics. It is reasonable to prescribe the<br />
drug whose cost is lowest, other things being equal. (At<br />
present, this means that benzodiazepines are preferred.)<br />
3. Switching from one hypnotic to another should only be<br />
done if a patient experiences an idiosyncratic adverse effect.<br />
4. Patients who have not benefited from one <strong>of</strong> these<br />
hypnotic drugs should not be prescribed any <strong>of</strong> the others.<br />
Case history<br />
A 67-year-old widow attended the Accident <strong>and</strong> Emergency<br />
Department complaining <strong>of</strong> left-sided chest pain, palpitations,<br />
breathlessness <strong>and</strong> dizziness. Relevant past medical history<br />
included generalized anxiety disorder following the<br />
death <strong>of</strong> her husb<strong>and</strong> three years earlier. She had been prescribed<br />
lorazepam, but had stopped it three weeks previously<br />
because she had read in a magazine that it was addictive.<br />
When her anxiety symptoms returned she attended her GP,<br />
who prescribed buspirone, which she had started the day<br />
before admission.<br />
Examination revealed no abnormality other than a regular<br />
tachycardia <strong>of</strong> 110 beats/minute, dilated pupils <strong>and</strong> sweating<br />
h<strong>and</strong>s. Routine investigations, including ECG <strong>and</strong> chest<br />
x-ray, were unremarkable.<br />
Question 1<br />
Assuming a panic attack is the diagnosis, what is a potential<br />
precipitant<br />
Question 2<br />
Give two potential reasons for the tachycardia.<br />
Answer 1<br />
Benzodiazepine withdrawal.<br />
Answer 2<br />
1. Buspirone (note that buspirone, although anxiolytic, is<br />
not helpful in benzodiazepine withdrawal <strong>and</strong> may<br />
also cause tachycardia).<br />
2. Anxiety.<br />
3. Benzodiazepine withdrawal.<br />
FURTHER READING<br />
Fricchione G. <strong>Clinical</strong> practice. Generalized anxiety disorder. New<br />
Engl<strong>and</strong> Journal <strong>of</strong> Medicine 2004; 351: 675–82.<br />
National Institute for <strong>Clinical</strong> Excellence. 2004: Guidance on the use <strong>of</strong><br />
zaleplon, zolpidem <strong>and</strong> zopiclone for the short-term management<br />
<strong>of</strong> insomnia. www.nice.org.uk/TA077guidance, 2004.<br />
Sateia MJ, Nowell PD. Insomnia. Lancet 2004; 364: 1959–73.<br />
Stevens JC, Pollack MH. Benzodiazepines in clinical practice: consideration<br />
<strong>of</strong> their long-term use <strong>and</strong> alternative agents. Journal <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Clinical</strong> Psychiatry 2005; 66 (Suppl. 2), 21–7.