When do you consider using benzodiazepines to treat insomnia in patients with acute mania?
Sleep disturbance is a core feature of mania and can worsen symptom severity.
In which clinical scenarios do you add a benzodiazepine to a mood stabilizer? Do you prefer shorter- or longer-acting agents? How do you approach duration and tapering once mania improves? Are there patient populations in which you avoid benzodiazepines?
1 Answer
Mednet Member
Psychiatry · Thapar Renu K Office
Answered on
In acute mania in younger patients, benzodiazepines can be a very helpful adjunct to mood stabilizers when they are not able to control the hyperactivity and insomnia with mood stabilizers alone.
In younger patients, I will go with longer-acting benzodiazepines, and in shorter-acting ones for older ...
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