Potential Effectiveness of Yokukansan and Lemborexant as Alternative Candidates to Benzodiazepines to Prevent Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Delirium in the Cancer Perioperative Period: A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND

Benzodiazepine withdrawal delirium is a serious problem, and several candidates have been proposed to manage benzodiazepine withdrawal, such as valproic acid and carbamazepine, up to now. However, it is not always possible to use these candidates during the cancer perioperative period due to the risk of oversedation, and new candidates are being awaited.

CASE PRESENTATION: A woman in her late 80s was prescribed lorazepam 1.0 mg/day and brotizolam 0.25 mg/day for persistent anxiety and insomnia following the death of her husband and son. She had been receiving these medications for 3 years; however, they were ineffective, and she began consuming double the prescribed dose to manage her symptoms. Additionally, problematic drinking behavior was also acknowledged. Three months before the cancer surgery, the first author and her primary physician collaborated; lorazepam was gradually reduced to 0.5 mg/day, while yokukansan (5.0 g/day) and lemborexant (5.0 mg/day) were introduced instead. Her mental status stabilized, and surgery was performed as planned with no adverse effects. Postoperative and benzodiazepine withdrawal delirium were not observed.

CONCLUSION

The combination of yokukansan and lemborexant may be an effective replacement for benzodiazepines in terms of their effects on 5-hydroxytryptamine-related mechanisms and regulation of the sleep cycle. During the cancer perioperative period, physicians may consider the gradual replacement or reduction of benzodiazepines with yokukansan and lemborexant before the surgery to avoid possible benzodiazepine-related delirium.