Withdrawal responses to abrupt discontinuation of desmethyldiazepam

The authors present the results of a controlled observation of withdrawal reactions accompanying cessation of desmethyldiazepam (clorazepate) therapy. The two subjects studied had had generalized anxiety disorder for several years; both were free from manifestations of other forms of psychopathology or addictive behavior patterns. Both patients maintained stable patterns of clorazepate use at modest doses for extended periods of time. The findings suggest that the long plasma half-life of clorazepate does not offer unique protection from withdrawal reactions associated with long-term therapy. Manifestations of these withdrawal reactions are indistinguishable from reactions associated with other benzodiazepine compounds.