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 .
The safety and efficacy of ipsapirone vs. lorazepam in outpatients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): single site findings from a multicenter trial.
We report the findings of a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled , parallel , generalized anxiety disorder ( GAD ) outpatient study . The purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy , safety , and tolerability of ipsapirone , an azapirone and 5-HT1A agonist , given at a total daily dose of 10 mg to 30 mg , with a total daily dose of 2 mg to 6 mg of lorazepam or placebo in 90 out patients with GAD of moderate or greater severity . At baseline , all patients had a Hamilton Anxiety Scale ( HAM-A ) score of > or = 18 and Covi anxiety score of > or = 8 . After a 1-week single-blind washout , patients entered a 4-week double-blind period with an optional extension for another 4 weeks , followed by a 2-week single-blind placebo washout .  Ipsapirone and lorazepam ratings on the HAM-A and Clinical Global Impressions ( CGI ) were significantly ( p < .05 ) superior to placebo at the end of the acute and maintenance periods of the trial , with a 50 percent HAM-A reduction on active drugs vs. 20 percent on placebo . The anxiety of patients receiving lorazepam , but not ipsapirone , rebounded during the final placebo washout
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 .