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Santo, L., Rui, P. and Ashman, J.J. (2020) Physician Office Visits at Which Benzodiazepines Were Prescribed: Findings from 2014-2016 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. National Health Statistics Reports, 137, 1-16.

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Pilot Studies on the Novel Hypothesis that TSPO (Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor) Is Involved in Benzodiazepine/“Z-Drug” Physical Dependence and/or Withdrawal

  AUTHORS: Cheyenne Moffett, Katherine J. Kost, Austen Thompson, Joseph V. Pergolizzi Jr., Tally M. Largent-Milnes, Robert B. Raffa, Todd Vanderah

  KEYWORDS: Benzodiazepine, TSPO, Rats, In Vivo Tests, Western-Blot Analysis

  JOURNAL NAME: Pharmacology & Pharmacy, Vol.14 No.3, March 31, 2023

  ABSTRACT: Benzodiazepines and other benzodiazepine receptor agonists, such as the “Z” drugs, are widely prescribed medications mainly used for treating anxiety and seizures, and for inducing sedation. Unfortunately, despite their popularity, benzodiazepine prescribing often exceeds recommendations and the consequences can be severe. On September 23, 2020, the United States FDA announced a new requirement for a Boxed Warning for benzodiazepines prescribing. Along with this announcement, the FDA stated that relevant information regarding the initiation, continuation, and discontinuation of benzodiazepines is lacking. Here, we describe initial pilot studies intended to investigate the questions 1) can animal models be developed that demonstrate benzodiazepine physical dependence and/or withdrawal symptoms, and 2) determine whether translocator protein (TSPO) plays a role in benzodiazepine dependence and/or withdrawal processes. The former was demonstrated, methodological limitations prevented the latter.