Skip to main content
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology logoLink to British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
. 1981;11(Suppl 1):99S–104S. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1981.tb01844.x

Paradoxical reactions to benzodiazepines

R C W Hall, S Zisook
PMCID: PMC1401636  PMID: 6133541

Abstract

1 The overall incidence of paradoxical responses to the benzodiazepines is extremely small, but a few controlled studies have been carried out which define the population at risk.

2 Such reactions tend to be idiosyncratic except possibly in patients with pre-rage personality, and do not seem to be associated with any predictable clinical indications.

Full text

PDF
99S

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bladin P. F. The use of clonazepam as an anticonvulsant--clinical evaluation. Med J Aust. 1973 Apr 7;1(14):683–688. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Frostad A. L., Forrest G. L., Bakker C. B. Influence of personality type on drug response. Am J Psychiatry. 1966 Apr;122(10):1153–1158. doi: 10.1176/ajp.122.10.1153. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Gardos G., DiMascio A., Salzman C., Shader R. I. Differential actions of chlordiazepoxide and oxazepam on hostility. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1968 Jun;18(6):757–760. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1968.01740060117014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Gleser G. C., Gottschalk L. A., Fox R., Lippert W. Immediate changes in affect with chlordiazepoxide. Chlordiazepoxide administration in juvenile delinquent boys. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1965 Oct;13(4):291–295. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1965.01730040001001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Goddard P., Lokare V. G. Diazepam in the management of epilepsy. Br J Psychiatry. 1970 Aug;117(537):213–214. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Greenberg R. Dream interruption insomnia. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1967 Jan;144(1):18–21. doi: 10.1097/00005053-196701000-00004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Greenblatt D. J., Shader R. I. Drug therapy. Benzodiazepines (first of two parts). N Engl J Med. 1974 Nov 7;291(19):1011–1015. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197411072911906. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Gundlach R., Engelhardt D. M., Hankoff L., Paley H., Rudorfer L., Bird E. A double-blind outpatient study of diazepam (Valium) and placebo. Psychopharmacologia. 1966;9(2):81–92. doi: 10.1007/BF00404713. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hall R. C., Kirkpatrick B. The benzodiazepines. Am Fam Physician. 1978 May;17(5):131–134. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. KALINA R. K. DIAZEPAM: ITS ROLE IN A PRISON SETTING. Dis Nerv Syst. 1964 Feb;25:101–107. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Kochansky G. E., salzman C., Shader R. I., Harmatz J. S., Ogeltree A. M. The differential effects of chlordiazepoxide and oxazepam on hostility in a small group setting. Am J Psychiatry. 1975 Aug;132(8):861–863. doi: 10.1176/ajp.132.8.861. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Lion J. R., Azcarate C. L., Koepke H. H. "Paradoxical rage reactions" during psychotropic medication. Dis Nerv Syst. 1975 Oct;36(10):557–558. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Lion J. R. Conceptual issues in the use of drugs for the treatment of aggression in man. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1975 Feb;160(2-1):76–82. doi: 10.1097/00005053-197502000-00002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. McDonald R. L. The effects of personality type on drug response. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1967 Dec;17(6):680–686. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1967.01730300040007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. McDowall A., Owen S., Robin A. A. A controlled comparison of diazepam and amylobarbitone in anxiety states. Br J Psychiatry. 1966 Jun;112(487):629–631. doi: 10.1192/bjp.112.487.629. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. McNair D. M., Goldstein A. P., Lorr M., Cibelli L. A., Roth I. Some effects of chlordiazepoxide and meprobamate with psychiatric outpatients. Psychopharmacologia. 1965 Mar 30;7(4):256–265. doi: 10.1007/BF00403692. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. McPeake J. D., DiMascio A. Drug-personality interaction in the learning of a nonsense syllable task. J Psychiatr Res. 1965 Aug;3(2):105–111. doi: 10.1016/0022-3956(65)90020-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Morrison J. R., Minkoff K. Explosive personality as a sequel to the hyperactive-child syndrome. Compr Psychiatry. 1975 Jul-Aug;16(4):343–348. doi: 10.1016/s0010-440x(75)80004-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Overall J. E., Hollister L. E., Johnson M., Pennington V. Nosology of depression and differential response to drugs. JAMA. 1966 Mar 14;195(11):946–948. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Paulley J. W. Psychological management of Crohn's disease. Practitioner. 1974 Jul;213(1273):59–64. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Podobnikar I. G. Implementation of psychotherapy by librium in a pioneering rural-industrial psychiatric practice. Psychosomatics. 1971 May-Jun;12(3):205–209. doi: 10.1016/S0033-3182(71)71536-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Rickels K., Downing R. W. Chlordiazepoxide and hostility in anxious outpatients. Am J Psychiatry. 1974 Apr;131(4):442–444. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Ryan H. F., Merrill F. B., Scott G. E., Krebs R., Thompson B. L. Increase in suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Association with diazepam therapy. JAMA. 1968 Mar 25;203(13):1137–1139. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. SARWER-FONER G. J., OGLE W. Psychosis and enhanced anxiety produced by reserpine and chlorpromazine. Can Med Assoc J. 1956 Apr 1;74(7):526–532. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. SARWER-FONER G. J. Psychoanalytic theories of activity-passivity conflicts and of the continuum of ego defenses; experimental verification, using reserpine and chlorpromazine. AMA Arch Neurol Psychiatry. 1957 Oct;78(4):413–418. doi: 10.1001/archneurpsyc.1957.02330400087011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. SAVAGE C., DAY J. Effects of a tranquilizer (reserpine) on psychodynamic and social processes. AMA Arch Neurol Psychiatry. 1958 May;79(5):590–596. doi: 10.1001/archneurpsyc.1958.02340050118015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Salzman C., DiMascio A., Shader R. I., Harmatz J. S. Chlordiazepoxide, expectation and hostility. Psychopharmacologia. 1969;14(1):38–45. doi: 10.1007/BF00401533. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Salzman C., Kochansky G. E., Shader R. I., Harmatz J. S., Ogletree A. M. Is oxazepam associated with hostility? Dis Nerv Syst. 1975 May;36(5 Pt 2):30–32. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Salzman C., Kochansky G. E., Shader R. I., Porrino L. J., Harmatz J. S., Swett C. P., Jr Chlordiazepoxide-induced hostility in a small group setting. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1974 Sep;31(3):401–405. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1974.01760150103015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Viscott D. S. Chlordiazepoxide and hallucinations. Report of cases. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1968 Sep;19(3):370–376. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1968.01740090114012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Zisook S., DeVaul R. A. Adverse behavioral effects of benzodiazepines. J Fam Pract. 1977 Dec;5(6):963–966. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology are provided here courtesy of British Pharmacological Society

RESOURCES