Audrey Abelleira, PharmD, BCPP. Clinical pharmacist practitioner, VA Connecticut Healthcare System; clinical instructor, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Dr. Abelleira has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.
Benzodiazepines are highly beneficial for managing anxiety and agitation in psychiatric inpatient settings, but we must be cautious about prescribing them to patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). Here we review strategies to reduce the risk of benzodiazepine misuse and discuss alternative medication options, including second-generation antipsychotics, antidepressants, gabapentin, and pregabalin.