Abstract

Benzodiazepines (such as chlordiazepoxide, e. g. Librium; diazepam, e. g. Valium) are the most widely prescribed and effective group of anti-anxiety drugs.^1–3 Not only are they effective in reducing anxiety, they are safer in overdose than most other anti-anxiety agents. Furthermore, they carry a much smaller risk of dependence than barbiturates or meprobamate.⁴ Nevertheless dependence may supervene at high dosage taken for a long time.^5–12