Psycho-pharmacotherapy for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder: the issue of prolonged barbiturate retention

ABSTRACT

The authors report the case of a 32-year-old man who had been treated for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder and had received 800 mg methylphenobarbital (MPB). After switching to a barbiturate-free schedule, his condition continued to be unstable for more than 21 MPB half-lives (approx. 30 days) and did not stabilize until MPB-metabolites dropped below their urinary detection limit. Considering that this article provides findings from a single patient, the authors use this experience to discuss and emphasize the importance of clinical control of barbiturates in psychiatry.

Keywords: :

• Anxiety
• Barbiturate retention
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Psycho-pharmacotherapy

Transparency

Declaration of funding

This article has not been supported by any pharmaceutical/commercial entity.

Declaration of financial relationships

R.E.F., G.K., and S.K. have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships. N.P.-R. has disclosed that she is the recipient of speakers’ fees from Lundbeck, Eli Lilly and GlaxoSmithKline.

All peer reviewers receive honoraria from CMRO for their review work. Peer Reviewer 1 and Peer Reviewer 2 have not disclosed any relevant financial relationships.

Acknowledgements

None.