Chronic benzodiazepine use in general practice patients with depression: An evaluation of controlled treatment and taper-off

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Abstract
Background: Many patients with depression take benzodiazepine drugs long term despite the absence of continuing therapeutic value.Aims: To evaluate a treatment programme involving gradual discontinuation with or without simultaneous selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) prescribing and to determine the long-term outcome after benzodiazepine withdrawal.Method: Patients went through three phases – change to an equivalent dose of diazepam; subsequent randomisation to either 20 mg of paroxetine or placebo; and gradual reduction of diazepam in depression-free patients – with a follow-up after 2 or 3 years.Results: A total of 230 patients were recruited and 75% in the paroxetine group and 61% in the placebo group were successfully treated after 6 weeks (P=0.067). After 2 or 3 years 13% of patients were still benzodiazepine free: 26% of those who had successfully tapered off benzodiazepine and 6% of the total group.Conclusions: Transfer to diazepam followed by gradual withdrawal is an effective way of discontinuing chronic benzodiazepine use. The addition of SSRI treatment is of limited value.