A 40-year-old woman with generalised anxiety disorder has been taking Diazepam regularly for 8 months, prescribed initially for ‘short-term anxiety’. ...

Question

A 40-year-old woman with generalised anxiety disorder has been taking Diazepam regularly for 8 months, prescribed initially for ‘short-term anxiety’. She now requests an increased dose as she feels it ‘doesn’t work as well’. What is the most appropriate management?

Accepted Answer

Gradually taper and stop Diazepam and offer evidence-based treatments such as CBT and SSRIs if needed

Answer

Increase the Diazepam dose as requested

Answer

Continue current dose indefinitely

Answer

Stop Diazepam abruptly

Answer

Switch to a different benzodiazepine with a longer half-life

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Benzodiazepine dependence in anxiety

A 40-year-old woman with generalised anxiety disorder has been taking Diazepam regularly for 8 months, prescribed initially for ‘short-term anxiety’. She now requests an increased dose as she feels it ‘doesn’t work as well’. What is the most appropriate management?