Long term use and abuse of benzodiazepines.

1. We have stressed the detrimental effect that lay publications, T. V. and mass media has had on the pharmacotherapy of anxiety and depressive reactions with benzodiazepines. 2. We have reviewed the scientific literature and found few well documented cases of benzodiazepine dependence if one considers that benzodiazepines are the most prescribed medications. 3. We discussed the possibility that the seizures reported on withdrawal of benzodiazepines used for very long periods, is not a "proof" of a physical dependence, but rather clinical evidence of the well known anticonvulsant effect of benzodiazepines. 4. We have hypothesized that the withdrawal syndromes associated to high dosages of benzodiazepines might have a different neurochemical mechanism to that observed in alcohol and barbiturates withdrawals.