MedicinePharmacologyPharmacotherapyClinical PharmacologyNeuropharmacologyPsychopharmacologyAnxiety Disorder PharmacotherapyAnxiety ManagementAnxiolytic PharmacologyAnxiolytic PharmacotherapyAnxiolytic TherapyAnxiolytic Medication UseAnxiolytic MedicationsBenzodiazepine TreatmentBuspirone PharmacologyMulticenter Clinical TrialsMulticenter TrialsPharmacologic AnxiolysisPharmacological Anxiety Management
The efficacy and safety of buspirone (Buspar), diazepam (Valium), and placebo were compared in a 3-week double-blind study of 131 patients with scores of at least 15 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety. Active drugs were administered orally in 5-mg tablets to a maximum dose of 10 mg t.i.d. Buspirone was given to 43 patients, diazepam to 46 and placebo to 42. There was significant improvement in all three treatment groups at 1 and 2 weeks, with further significant improvement with both active drugs, but not with placebo, at 3 weeks. The incidence of side effects reported voluntarily by patients was similar with the two active drugs, but drowsiness was significantly more frequent with diazepam.