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Eve Bargmann, MD; Sidney M. Wolfe, MD
Health Research Group Washington, DC

JAMA. 1984;251(12):1555.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

In their report on long-term diazepam use, Rickels et al¹ leave at least two important questions unanswered.

First, none of their 14 patients experiencing diazepam withdrawal symptoms had seizures or psychosis, and they conclude that the withdrawal was neither life threatening nor incapacitating. This is hardly surprising, since in 11 of these 14 patients, diazepam therapy was reinstituted when withdrawal symptoms appeared and was then gradually withdrawn. Psychosis during benzodiazepine withdrawal has been reported four to seven days after discontinuation of treatment with the drug^2,3; seizures have been reported after two to five days.^4,5 How long did Rickels' patients receive placebo before diazepam treatment was resumed?

Second, they suggest that the gradual return of anxiety symptoms in patients who no longer took diazepam proves the long-term efficacy of diazepam. To prove efficacy, they would need to show that patients receiving diazepam for 22 weeks . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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