Meprobamate in the Treatment of Tension States

Abstract

Meprobamate was found in this trial to act as a tranquilizing agent on certain symptoms and in a specific category of patients. The psychological assessment at the end of the trial tends to show that tension was influenced by the drug. As tension was the outstanding symptom in the trial subjects, the therapeutic outcome in this type ofpsychoneurosis was correspondingly satisfactory. At the same time, psychological as well as clinical findings suggest that the dysthymic neurotic reacts to the drug in a positive way whereas the hysteric is not so affected. Clinical impressions obtained during the trial confirm those of previous authors. The need for night sedation was eliminated in the majority of cases, and the benefit derived from the drug appeared to be greater in the instances of a more recent and less severe illness, with a less gradual onset of symptoms. The drug action differs from that of barbituric sedatives. No skin rashes, as mentioned by other authors, were noted in this investigation, the leucocyte count remained unaffected by the drug, and no addiction occurred (Lemere, 1956). The only side effect in one patient of the experimental group was weakness of the legs and tremor during the first week of treatment. Although meprobamate appears to be useful in certain specific instances, within the scope of this investigation, further research on similar lines seems to be desirable in order to provide greater confidence in its prescription.