Publication:

Addition of benzodiazepines to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to optimize treatment of depression: a hospital based study

Background Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ameliorate depression and anxiety slowly and in fact increase anxiety or insomnia initially. Addition of clonazepam to escitalopram improves response: thereby improving symptoms associated with depression, reducing side-effects and alleviating core depressive symptoms. The aim of study was to assess the benefits of adding benzodiazepines in management of depression.

Methods It was an open label prospective study of 8 weeks of escitalopram group versus escitalopram with benzodiazepine group in moderate to severe depression. 51 subjects who gave written informed consent and were fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study and grouped into escitalopram alone or escitalopram with benzodiazepines.

Results In the present study nearly 60% of the patients were prescribed clonazepam. Though combined group with benzodiazepines had faster onset of action in controlling depressive symptoms than escitalopram group alone at 4 weeks of treatment, there was no significant difference in the pattern of reduction of MADRS score in both the groups at 8 weeks of follow up.

Conclusions Augmenting benzodiazepines to antidepressants are more effective in management of depression associated anxiety and sleep disturbances initially till SSRIs start action.