Abstract
The effectiveness of clonidine hydrochloride in the treatment of abrupt withdrawal from long-term, therapeutic doses of benzodiazepines was studied in 3 patients under double-blind, placebo-controlled conditions. The intensity, severity, and duration of the abstinence syndrome were not altered by clonidine at a dose sufficient to markedly reduce blood pressure and plasma free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol. These results contrast with the established efficacy of clonidine in the opiate withdrawal syndrome and suggest that many of the symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal may not be caused by hyperactivity of the noradrenergic system.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 900-903 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | American Journal of Psychiatry |
| Volume | 143 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1986 |
| Externally published | Yes |