anxiolytic sedatives

Last reviewed 07/2023

Anxiolytic sedatives are very widely prescribed and often inappropriately. Always look for the causes of anxiety and try to modify them, and remember that a certain amount of anxiety is a normal part of life and may indeed increase a patient's motivation to make necessary changes to the way of life.

Similarly cases of insomnia without other difficulties are rare, and insomnia is usually a response to other problem or symptom. These drugs are most useful when given for a short time either to tide over a crisis or to help a patient tackle a new problem. Tolerance develops eventually to all such drugs and it is seldom good practice to use prolonged prescriptions.