A comparative trial of lorazepam and doxepin in the treatment of anxiety

Summary

A new benzodiazepine, lorazepam, has been compared with a standard non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic (doxepin) in equivalent dosage. Both products were found to be equally effective in the relief of anxiety; a good or excellent response being found after 3 weeks in some 50% of patients on both drugs.

Side-effects were mild but sufficient to cause 15 % of those on lorazepam and 28 % of those on doxepin to wish to discontinue the drug. Lorazepam showed less side-effects than did doxepin and was tolerated better. An interesting symptom found in 2 cases was the induction of emotional lability in the shape of weepiness produced without a sense of depression in the patients concerned.

Key words::

• Lorazepam
• doxepin
• tranquillizing agents
• neuroses
• anxiety