Am J Psychiatry 1979; 136:18-23
Copyright © 1979 by American Psychiatric Association
Relationship of plasma levels of chlordiazepoxide and metabolites to clinical response
KM Lin and RO Friedel
The authors report on the relationship between the antianxiety effects of
chronically administered chlordiazepoxide (CDX) and plasma levels of CDX
and two of its metabolites, desmethylchlordiazepoxide (DMCDX) and demoxepam
(DMX). Fifteen subjects with moderate to severe anxiety were studied in a
double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Significant
correlations were found between anxiety reduction and DMCDX and DMX plasma
levels. No such correlation was observed between anxiety reduction and CDX
levels. These data suggest that in chronically treated subjects, DMCDX and
DMX have significant antianxiety properties which surpass those of CDX
itself.
