A comparison of buspirone and placebo in relieving benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms

Buspirone is a new antianxiety compound of a totally new type which may avoid the dependence problems of its predecessors. This study was designed to evaluate any possible cross-tolerance to the benzodiazepines. Twenty-four outpatients on long-term therapeutic dose benzodiazepine treatment, who wished to discontinue treatment, were allocated randomly to placebo substitution or buspirone substitution and then withdrawal over a total of 10 weeks. Assessments were made at weekly intervals. Of the 24 patients entered into the trial, 13 received buspirone and 11 placebo. Only five of the buspirone and six of the placebo patients successfully completed withdrawal. Some anxiolytic action of buspirone was detected, but it was insufficient to materially assist the withdrawal. No evidence was found that buspirone was cross-tolerant to the benzodiazepines. It was concluded that buspirone does not help benzodiazepine withdrawal and does not suppress benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms.