Author(s)

Cheyenne Moffett¹, Katherine J. Kost¹, Austen Thompson¹, Joseph V. Pergolizzi Jr.^2,3,4, Tally M. Largent-Milnes¹, Robert B. Raffa^3,4,5,6, Todd Vanderah¹

¹Department of Pharmacology, and Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
²NEMA Inc., Naples, FL, USA.
³Neumentum Inc., Summit, NJ, USA.
⁴Enalare Therapeutics, Naples, FL, USA.
⁵School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
⁶College of Pharmacy (Adjunct), University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.

Benzodiazepines and other benzodiazepine receptor agonists, such as the “Z” drugs, are widely prescribed medications mainly used for treating anxiety and seizures, and for inducing sedation. Unfortunately, despite their popularity, benzodiazepine prescribing often exceeds recommendations and the consequences can be severe. On September 23, 2020, the United States FDA announced a new requirement for a Boxed Warning for benzodiazepines prescribing. Along with this announcement, the FDA stated that relevant information regarding the initiation, continuation, and discontinuation of benzodiazepines is lacking. Here, we describe initial pilot studies intended to investigate the questions 1) can animal models be developed that demonstrate benzodiazepine physical dependence and/or withdrawal symptoms, and 2) determine whether translocator protein (TSPO) plays a role in benzodiazepine dependence and/or withdrawal processes. The former was demonstrated, methodological limitations prevented the latter.

Benzodiazepine, TSPO, Rats, In Vivo Tests, Western-Blot Analysis

Moffett, C. , Kost, K. , Thompson, A. , Jr., J. , Largent-Milnes, T. , Raffa, R. and Vanderah, T. (2023) Pilot Studies on the Novel Hypothesis that TSPO (Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor) Is Involved in Benzodiazepine/“Z-Drug” Physical Dependence and/or Withdrawal. Pharmacology & Pharmacy, 14, 72-83. doi: 10.4236/pp.2023.143006.