Am J Psychiatry 1986; 143:900-903
Copyright © 1986 by American Psychiatric Association
Ineffectiveness of clonidine in the treatment of the benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome: report of three cases
WK Goodman, DS Charney, LH Price, SW Woods and GR Heninger
The effectiveness of clonidine hydrochloride in the treatment of abrupt
withdrawal from long-term, therapeutic doses of benzodiazepines was studied
in three 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.
