Premium
In‐patient benzodiazepine withdrawal: comparison of fixed and symptom‐triggered taper methods
Author(s) -
MCGREGOR CATHERINE,
MACHIN ALISON,
WHITE JASON M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1080/09595230100100615
Subject(s) - benzodiazepine , diazepam , medicine , anesthesia , randomized controlled trial , dosing , psychology , receptor
Fixed and symptom‐triggered taper methods during in‐patient benzodiazepine withdrawal treatment were compared using a randomized controlled design. Forty‐four benzodiazepine users seeking in‐patient withdrawal treatment at two substance use treatment clinics in Adelaide, Australia were recruited. Measurements included the Severity of Dependence Scale and the SF–36. A scale comprising six items from the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment Scale—Benzodiazepines (CIWA‐B) was used to measure withdrawal symptoms. Participants were randomized to receive a fixed diazepam tapering regime or diazepam only in response to withdrawal symptoms (symptom‐triggered group). Results showed that there were no significant differences between treatment groups in terms of withdrawal severity, duration of in‐patient treatment, amount of diazepam administered, treatment attrition and benzodiazepine use at follow‐up. Both groups showed a reduction in benzodiazepine dosage of 86% over the first 8 days which was maintained at 1 month post‐discharge. Although there were improvements in some subscales of the SF–36 between baseline and follow‐up, values were significantly below age‐matched norms at both time‐points. This study showed that benzodiazepine users entering treatment have relatively poor health and that symptom‐triggered taper methods incorporating flexible dosing and flexible treatment duration are as effective as fixed dose taper methods for in‐patient benzodiazepine withdrawal treatment.