Are all benzodiazepines clinically equivalent?

Abstract

Clinical observations are not always consistent with laboratory findings where half-life or pharmacokinetics do not always correlate with pharmacodynamics, ie. clinically effective duration of action. The parent compound, chlordiazepoxide, was observed to have anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, muscle relaxant properties to varying degrees. Subsequently, diazepam seemed to exert a greater potency in these three areas. The final metabolite, oxazepam, has been observed to have a different therapeutic profile. The advent of the triazolo compounds brought a new dimension to benzodiazepine treatment both in primary and side effects. The relationship between blood levels and clinical efficacy is considered in the light of clinical observations as well as in the perspective of clinical management. Problems of tolerance and escalation of dosage must be addressed in the administration of these drugs where the confluence of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic findings may serve as a guide in the management of anxious patients.