Tolerance, Dependence and Withdrawal
Bromazepam shares with other benzodiazepines the risk of abuse, misuse, psychological dependence and/or physical dependence. A withdrawal study demonstrated both psychological dependence and physical dependence on bromazepam including marked rebound anxiety after 4 weeks chronic use. Those whose dose was gradually reduced experienced no withdrawal.
Patients treated with bromazepam for generalised anxiety disorder were found to experience withdrawal symptoms such as a worsening of anxiety, as well as the development of physical withdrawal symptoms when abruptly withdrawn from bromazepam. Abrupt or over rapid withdrawal from bromazepam after chronic use even at therapeutic prescribed doses can lead to a severe withdrawal syndrome including status epilepticus and a condition resembling delerium tremens.
Animal studies have shown that chronic administration of diazepam or bromazepam causes a decrease in spontaneous locomotor activity and the turnover of noradrenaline and dopamine and serotonin, decreased activity of tyrosine hydroxylase and increased levels of the catecholamines. During withdrawal of bromazepam or diazepam a fall in tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptamine levels occurs as part of the benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome.
Read more about this topic: Bromazepam
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