Lorazepam and diazepam rapidly relieve catatonic features in major depression.

Clin Neuropharmacol

Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Published: July 2006

AI Article Synopsis

  • A modified treatment involving lorazepam intramuscular injection and diazepam intravenous drip quickly alleviates catatonic symptoms in schizophrenia and major depression.
  • In a study of 7 patients with catatonic features, lorazepam was administered, achieving an 85.7% complete remission rate within 2 hours.
  • If lorazepam was ineffective, diazepam was used, resulting in 100% remission within 1 day, indicating the potential of this strategy as an alternative to electroconvulsive therapy.

Article Abstract

We have proved that a modified strategy (ie, lorazepam intramuscular injection [IMI] or diazepam intravenous drip [IVD] if lorazepam IMI fails) can rapidly relieve catatonic features in patients with schizophrenia. During a period of 3 years, we identified 7 major depressive patients with catatonic features in the emergency unit of a general hospital. The patients were treated with lorazepam IMI (dose, 2 mg/mL.per ampule) once or twice during the first 2 hours. If lorazepam IMI failed, diazepam IVD (dose, 10 mg/2 mL.per ampule) in 500 mL normal saline every 8 hours for 1 day would be administered. The total complete remission rate to lorazepam IMI within 2 hours was 6 (85.7%) per 7 patients, and the total complete remission rate to benzodiazepines (lorazepam IMI and diazepam IVD) within 1 day was 7 (100%) of all 7 patients. These results highly suggest that this modified strategy can also rapidly relieve catatonic features in major depression within 1 day and attain a high complete remission rate, even without electroconvulsive therapy.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.WNF.0000221908.56361.C7DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

lorazepam imi
20
catatonic features
16
rapidly relieve
12
relieve catatonic
12
complete remission
12
remission rate
12
features major
8
major depression
8
modified strategy
8
diazepam ivd
8

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!