 |
|
Long-term Use of Diazepam
Leo E. Hollister, MD;
Frances K. Conley, MD;
Richard H. Britt, MD;
Larry Shuer, MD
JAMA. 1981;246(14):1568-1570.
Abstract
Plasma concentrations of diazepam and its major active metabolite nordiazepam were measured in 108 neurosurgical patients taking diazepam in doses of 5 to 40 mg/day for periods from one month to 16 years. Diazepam was used for relief of pain or muscle spasm, or anxiety and sleeplessness associated with these two symptoms, and was considered to be beneficial by 83% of the patients, although use of other drugs confounded this evaluation. Concentrations of total diazepam-nordiazepam ranged from 0 to 2,584 ng/mL, with nordiazepam being the predominant metabolite. "Low" concentrations (<250 ng/mL) were found in 35 of the 108 patients, with 19 having concentrations lower than 100 ng/mL. "High" concentrations (>900 ng/mL) were found in 20 patients and did not occur more frequently than in other studies of long-term diazepam ingestion. Even with long-term use, diazepam seemed to retain its efficacy and did not lead to any clear-cut abuse.
(JAMA 1981;246:1568-1570)
Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Medicine (Dr Hollister) and Neurosurgery (Drs Conley, Britt, and Shuer), the Veterans Administration Medical Center and Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, Calif.
Footnotes
Reprint requests to Veterans Administration Medical Center, 151-H, 3801 Miranda Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304 (Dr Hollister).
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Prevalence and Correlates of the Long-term Regular Use of Anxiolytics
Mellinger et al.
JAMA 1984;251:375-379.
ABSTRACT
Long-term Diazepam Therapy and Clinical Outcome
Rickels et al.
JAMA 1983;250:767-771.
ABSTRACT
|
