Although benzodiazepines are not commonly preferred medications in the first line, they are used as a short-term adjunct to treatment for patients diagnosed with depression or anxiety disorder in the second and third lines of care. However, this short-term use is sometimes extended undesirably, and this prolonged use leads to various complications. This letter to the editor has been written to discuss two lesser-known adverse effects of long-term benzodiazepine use, disinhibition and paradoxical reaction, and to draw the attention of primary care physicians.
Key Words: Benzodiazepine, primary care, depression, anxiety