Book Description:
Although benzodiazepines are among the most commonly prescribed medications, owing to their roles in multiple areas of therapeutic action as anxiolytics, sedative hypnotics, anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants, they are also highly addictive. Long-term use can lead to dependency, rebound anxiety, memory impairment and withdrawal. In this book, the authors discuss the abuse and therapeutic uses, pharmacology and health effects of benzodiazepine. Topics include the effects of benzodiazepine during prolonged administration and under conditions of stress; anxiolytic-like effect and excessive side actions produced by benzodiazepines in the elderly; risk factors for benzodiazepine dependence in women with major depression or anxiety disorders; flumazenil slow-infusion in the treatment of high dose benzodiazepine dependence; benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome; and encephalopathies related to exogenous or endogenous benzodiazepines. (Imprint: Nova Biomedical)

Table of Contents:
Preface

The Effects of Benzodiazepines during Prolonged Administration and Under the Conditions of Stress;pp. 1-54
(Dubravka Svob Strac, Josipa Vlainic, Maja Jazvinscak Jembrek, Dorotea Muck-Seler, Nela Pivac, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Division of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Bijenicka, Zagreb, Croatia, and others)

Applying Benzodiazepine Discontinuation Strategies in Everyday Practice;pp. 55-74
(E. Mulkerrins, W. Cullen, D. Meagher, University of Limerick School of Medicine, Ireland)

Higher Side Actions of Benzodiazepines in the Elderly: Clinical and Basic Aspects;pp. 75-90
(Sandra Olvera-Hernández, Alonso Fernández-Guasti, Pharmacobiology Department, CINVESTAV, México City, México)

Risk Factors for Benzodiazepine Dependence in Women with Major Depression or Anxiety Disorders;pp. 91-102
(A. Fresán, C. Berlanga, R. Robles-García, O. Minaya, Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas. Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría “Ramón de la Fuente Muníz”, Secretaría de Salud. Mexico City, Mexico, and others)

Flumazenil Slow-Infusion in the Treatment of High Dose Benzodiazepine Dependence;pp. 103-112
(Fabio Lugoboni, Marco Faccini, Rebecca Casari, Gianluca Quaglio, Addiction Unit,Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy)

Encephalopathies Related to Exogenous or Endogenous Benzodiazepines;pp. 113-159
(Ron Granot, Institute of Neurosciences, Prince of Wales Hospital, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Australia)*

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome and Strategies for Discontinuing Benzodiazepine Use: Appropriate Treatment with SSRIs and SNRIs;pp. 161-179
(Mutsuhiro Nakao, Kyoko Nomura, Takeaki Takeuchi, Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Teikyo University School of Medicine and Division of Psychosomatic Medicine, Teikyo University Hosptial, Tokyo, Japan)*

Index