Benzodiazepines--misuse, abuse and dependency.

Recent European articles report many adverse effects of benzodiazepines, including aberrant symptoms, toxic states, dependency and withdrawal syndromes. The dependency may be primary high-dose, primary low-dose (therapeutic) or secondary dependency (multiple drug abuse). Withdrawal syndromes include rebound effects and benzodiazepine-specific reactions. Anxiolytic use of benzodiazepine should be limited to the treatment of short-term anxiety-producing situations.