Misuse of prescription drugs in the elderly can be a serious problem that is difficult to manage. Prescriptions for non-narcotic central nervous system (CNS) depressants (e.g., anxiolytics and sedative-hypnotics) are commonly written, and their use is associated with severe intoxication and withdrawal effects. The presence of comorbid psychiatric conditions (e.g., depression or panic disorder), for which these agents are prescribed frequently, complicates the clinical picture. This paper, using case examples of meprobamate abuse, describes how physicians can recognize, manage, and treat a patient who is abusing a non-narcotic CNS depressant.
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