Azapirones may be less effective than benzodiazepines and we were unable to conclude if azapirones were superior to antidepressants , kava kava or psychotherapy .
Azapirones appeared to be well tolerated .
Azapirones appeared to be useful in the treatment of GAD , particularly for those participants who had not been on a benzodiazepine .
Azapirones may not be superior to benzodiazepines and do not appear as acceptable as benzodiazepines .
Side effects appeared mild and non serious in the azapirone treated group .
Longer term studies are needed to show that azapirones are effective in treating GAD , which is a chronic long-term illness
BACKGROUND Azapirones are a group of drugs that work at the 5-HT1A receptor and are used to treat patients suffering from generalized anxiety disorder ( GAD ) .
However , several studies have shown conflicting results .
Whether azapirones are useful as first line treatment in general anxiety disorders still needs to be answered .
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy and the acceptability of azapirones for the treatment of GAD .
Abecarnil for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a placebo-controlled comparison of two dosage ranges of abecarnil and buspirone.
BACKGROUND The development of effective and well-tolerated anxiolytic agents is an area of critical clinical importance . Abecarnil , a beta carboline , is a partial benzodiazepine-receptor agonist that has demonstrated promise as an anxiolytic agent . In this study , we examine the efficacy , safety , and discontinuation-related effects of abecarnil , buspirone , and placebo in the acute and long-term treatment of patients who have generalized anxiety disorder . METHOD This is a double-blind , placebo-controlled study of two dosages of abecarnil and buspirone . In total , 464 patients were r and omized . After a placebo run-in week , patients entered a 6-week double-blind treatment period , followed by an optional 18-week maintenance period for treatment responders . After abrupt discontinuation of the acute or maintenance treatment , patients entered a 3-week placebo-substitution follow-up period . Treatment response was assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety and the Clinical Global Impressions ( CGI ) Scale . RESULTS Compared with placebo , abecarnil showed significant anxiolytic activity early in the treatment period , particularly in the high-dosage group , though these differences did not maintain statistical significance at the end of the trial . Buspirone was associated with a slower onset of action and better symptom relief than placebo after 6 weeks of therapy . Withdrawal symptoms emerged in patients who abruptly discontinued abecarnil ( particularly at the higher dosage ) only in those receiving a longer duration of treatment . CONCLUSION The results of this study need to be understood in the context of a high placebo-response rate , which hampers the ability to demonstrate significant drug-placebo differences . This study suggests that abecarnil may be an effective anxiolytic agent ; further attention is warranted to assess its spectrum of clinical effectiveness
Azapirones may be less effective than benzodiazepines and we were unable to conclude if azapirones were superior to antidepressants , kava kava or psychotherapy .
Azapirones appeared to be well tolerated .
Azapirones appeared to be useful in the treatment of GAD , particularly for those participants who had not been on a benzodiazepine .
Azapirones may not be superior to benzodiazepines and do not appear as acceptable as benzodiazepines .
Side effects appeared mild and non serious in the azapirone treated group .
Longer term studies are needed to show that azapirones are effective in treating GAD , which is a chronic long-term illness
BACKGROUND Azapirones are a group of drugs that work at the 5-HT1A receptor and are used to treat patients suffering from generalized anxiety disorder ( GAD ) .
However , several studies have shown conflicting results .
Whether azapirones are useful as first line treatment in general anxiety disorders still needs to be answered .
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy and the acceptability of azapirones for the treatment of GAD .