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 .
[Efficacy and withdrawal of clobazam, lorazepam and buspirone in the treatment of anxiety disorders].
This multicentre study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and consequences of progressive or abrupt withdrawal of clobazam in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in a double blind study in comparison to lorazepam and buspirone .  128 out patients suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder according to DMS III criteria were included in the study and treated for three weeks . They were r and omly divided into 4 groups : group 1 : 32 patients receiving  clobazam , abruptly withdrawn and replaced by a placebo ; group 2 : 29 patients receiving  clobazam with progressive withdrawal over 3 weeks , clobazam being replaced by a placebo ; group 3 : 33 patients receiving lorazepam with progressive withdrawal over 3 weeks , lorazepam being replaced by a placebo ; group 4 : 34 patients receiving buspirone , abruptly withdrawn and replaced by a placebo . The dosages were increased progressively during the first week of treatment . At the end of this time , the patients received either 30 mg clobazam or 30 mg buspirone or 3 mg lorazepam daily . After the first week , the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale ( HARS ) showed a significant improvement in clobazam and lorazepam groups but not in buspirone group . All the drugs were equally effective after three weeks of treatment . The anti-anxiety activity persisted after withdrawal of the studied drug in the 4 groups , without any signs of rebound anxiety or withdrawal syndrome . No clinical ly relevant differences were found between the 4 groups regarding safety . The side-effects reported were mainly drowsiness in clobazam and lorazepam groups , nausea and headache in buspirone group . In conclusion , clobazam like lorazepam improved anxiety more quickly than buspirone ; after 3 weeks of therapy , efficacy was comparable with the 3 drugs and persisted after treatment discontinuation
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 .