Ketazolam and Diazepam in Anxiety: A Controlled Study

Abstract

Ketazolam (both in once-daily and three-times-daily dosing), diazepam, and placebo were compared for effectiveness in relieving anxious symptomatology in a clinical trial conducted with a total of 222 anxious, non-psychotic outpatients. Results indicated that improvement occurred early in treatment, that ketazolam was equally effective in both once-daily and three-times-daily dosing, and that ketazolam was similar in effect to diazepam. Ketazolam (both once-daily and three-times-daily) and diazepam were significantly (P < 0.05) better than placebo in alleviating symptoms of anxiety, as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, the Covi Anxiety Scale, and a physician-rated measure of global improvement.

Effects of non‐sedative anxiolytic drugs on responses to GABA and on diazepam‐induced enhancement of these responses on mouse neurones in cell culture

“…While PK 9084 is poorly established as an anxioselective agent, buspirone has been shown to be efficaceous in several clinical trials (Goldberg & Finnerty, 1979;Goldberg & Finnerty, 1982;Rickels et al, 1982). These results are consistent with the conclusion that anxiety can be treated by modification of non-GABAergic neurotransmission, possibly including 5-hydroxytryptaminergic, noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems (for review, see: Hoehn-Saric, 1982;Braestrup, 1982).…”

“…Buspirone, a piperazinyl pyrimidine, is a non-benzodiazepine receptor ligand with anticonflict activity (Riblet et al, 1982;Geller & Hartmann, 1982). Several clinical trials have confirmed the non-sedative anxiolytic profile of this compound (Goldberg & Finnerty, 1979;Rickels et al, 1982;Newton et al, 1982).…”

World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) Guidelines for the Pharmacological Treatment of Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders – First Revision

“…The 5-HT 1A -agonist buspirone is effective in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, as could be shown in some controlled studies. Buspirone was superior to placebo in some studies (Davidson et al 1999;Enkelmann 1991;Pollack et al 1997) and as effective as benzodiazepines (Feighner et al 1982;Jacobson et al 1985;Rickels et al 1982;Ross and Matas 1987;Strand et al 1990). However, it was less effective than venlafaxine (Davidson et al 1999) or hydroxyzine (Lader and Scotto 1998).…”

Monoaminergic involvement in the pharmacological actions of buspirone

“…Buspirone, 8-(4-(4-(2-pyrimidinyl)-1-piperazinyl)-butyl)-8-azaspiro [4,5]-decane-7, 9-dione hydrochloride (Figure 1), has demonstrable anticonflict actions in several species (monkey, rat, pigeon) (Riblet et al, 1982;Weissman et al, 1984;Barrett et al, 1984) and anxiolytic actions in man (Goldberg & Finnerty, 1979;Rickels et al, 1982). However, buspirone appears to lack many of the pharmacological properties (e.g.…”