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Comparison of the Efficacy, Safety and Withdrawal of Alpidem and Alprazolam in Anxious Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Lodovico Frattola ,
Martine Garreau ,
Roberto Piolti ,
Sirio Bassi ,
Maria G. Albizzati ,
Cristina Borghi  and
Paolo L. Morselli
Lodovico Frattola
Affiliation:
University of Milan, San Gerardo Hospital, Italy
Martine Garreau*
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Department, Synthélabo Recherche, Bagneux, France
Roberto Piolti
Affiliation:
University of Milan, San Gerardo Hospital, Italy
Sirio Bassi
Affiliation:
Neurology Division, Bassini Hospital, Milan, Italy
Maria G. Albizzati
Affiliation:
Neurology Division, Bassini Hospital, Milan, Italy
Cristina Borghi
Affiliation:
Synthélabo Recherche Italy, Milan, Italy
Paolo L. Morselli
Affiliation:
Synthélabo Recherche, Bagneux, France
*
Dr Martine Garreau, Clinical Research Department, Synthélabo Recherche, 31 me Paul Vaillant Couturier, 92200 Bagneux, France
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Extract

Background

We investigated whether a new non-benzodiazepine anti-anxiety drug, alpidem, produces weaker withdrawal symptoms than alprazolam.

Method

Under a double-blind procedure, 122 patients suffering from general anxiety disorders were randomly allocated to either alpidem (50 mg, three times a day) or alprazolam (0.5 mg, three times a day) for six weeks, followed by a two-week placebo withdrawal phase. The diagnosis of withdrawal syndrome (WS) was made, in blind conditions, on the basis of the Withdrawal Symptom Check List (WSCL), after one or two weeks of discontinuation of active treatment.

Results

The WS occurred significantly less frequently in the alpidem group (n = 10, 18%) than in the alprazolam group (n = 26, 48%). Typical withdrawal symptoms on the WSCL were also significantly less severe (P = 0.044) in the alpidem group compared with the alprazolam group.

Conclusions

Alpidem may be a valid alternative to current benzodiazepine anxiolytic therapy because it produces fewer and weaker withdrawal symptoms than alprazolam and is better tolerated.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 165 , Issue 1 , July 1994 , pp. 94 - 100
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1994 

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