A Controlled Comparison of Methaminodiazepoxide (Chlordiazepoxide, “Librium”) and Amylobarbitone in the Treatment of Anxiety in Neurotic Patients

Abstract

In another paper, Jenner, Kerry and Parkin (1961) confirmed the views of earlier workers, Harris (1960) and Voelkel (1960) and others that methaminodiazepoxide is an effective agent in relieving anxiety in neurotic patients. That study was a blind controlled comparison of methaminodiazepoxide against lactose, but gave no indication of its value as compared with other drugs. The present paper is a comparison of methaminodiazepoxide (Librium, Roche) and amylobarbitone. The latter drug was felt to be one of the best known and most reliable drugs used in psychiatry for the treatment of anxiety. Raymond, Lucas, Beesley, O'Connell and Fraser-Roberts (1957) compared it very favourably with benactyzine, chlorpromazine, meprobamate, sedaltine and lactose. In that trial amylobarbitone was the only drug significantly better than lactose.