@article {Vaz-Serra:1 April 2001:1173-2563:257,
	author = "Vaz-Serra A.",
	author = "Figueira M.L.",
	author = "Bessa-Peixoto A.",
	author = "Firmino H.",
	author = "Albuquerque R.",
	author = "Paz C.",
	author = "Dolgner A.",
	author = "Vaz-Silva M.",
	author = "Almeida L.",
	title = "Mexazolam and Alprazolam in the Treatment of Generalised Anxiety Disorder: A Double-Blind, Randomised Clinical Trial",
	journal = "Clinical Drug Investigation",
	volume = "21",
	year = "1 April 2001",
	abstract = "<B>Objective</B>: To compare the anxiolytic effects of mexazolam with those of alprazolam in patients with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).<P></P><B>Methods</B>: Multicentre, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group clinical trial in 64 outpatients with GAD (DSM-IV criteria). Patients were assigned to mexazolam 1mg three times daily (n = 32) or alprazolam 0.5mg three times daily (n = 32) during 1 week, followed sequentially by a period of 2 weeks of reducing dosage according to therapeutic response and by 1-week taper and 1-week treatment-free periods. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), the Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and the Snaith &amp; Zigmund anxiety and depression self-rating scale (SZS) were used to evaluate the patient &#039;s clinical status.<P></P><B>Results</B>: Both treatment groups showed a statistically significant anxiolytic effect: a decrease of mean HAM-A score of 16.28 with mexazolam (p &#060; 0.0001 <I>vs</I> baseline) and 14.2 with alprazolam (p &#060; 0.0001) and a reduction in CGI-disease severity score of 2.66 (p &#060; 0.0001) with mexazolam and 2.44 with alprazolam (p &#060; 0.0001). Although a higher absolute rate of responders was observed in the mexazolam group, there were no statistically significant differences in the between-group comparisons (80&#037; <I>vs</I> 70&#037; in HAM-A and 96.7&#037; <I>vs</I> 86.7&#037; in CGI evaluations). Five mexazolam and nine alprazolam recipients reported mild adverse events.<P></P><B>Conclusion</B>: Both mexazolam and alprazolam showed a significant anxiolytic effect and were well tolerated in the treatment of GAD, making it an effective pharmacotherapeutic alternative in the treatment of GAD.",
	pages = "257-263(7)",
	url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/adis/cdi/2001/00000021/00000004/art00003"
}