Record Status This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database. Citation CADTH. Short- and long-term use of benzodiazepines in patients with generalized anxiety disorder: a review of guidelines. Ottawa: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). Rapid Response. 2014 Authors' conclusions The short-term use of benzodiazepines for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder is recommended as adjunctive therapy to antidepressants until their effectiveness is apparent or in times of acute crisis or increased anxiety. One guideline specified a daily dosage of alprazolam ranging between 1.5 mg and 6 mg when used to control the anxiety associated with first-line use of antidepressants. Long-term use of benzodiazepines is only recommended in patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate numerous first-line therapies. No recommendations were provided on the maximum daily doses for long-term BZD treatment for GAD. For special populations, the guidelines generally advise against the use of BZDs in the elderly (or to use at lower adult doses if required), to use them sparingly in children and adolescents, and to use them with caution during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy, during labour and delivery, and when breastfeeding. Indexing Status Subject indexing assigned by NLM MeSH Anti-Anxiety Agents /therapeutic use; Clonazepam /therapeutic use; Cyclohexanols /therapeutic use; Females; Male; Phobic Disorders /drug therapy; Sertraline /therapeutic use Language Published English Country of organisation Canada English summary An English language summary is available. Address for correspondence Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH), 865 Carling Avenue, Suite 600, Ottawa, Ontario Canada, K1S 5S8 Email: requests@cadth.ca AccessionNumber 32015000209 Date abstract record published 06/03/2015 |