Antianxiety effects of lorazepam in patients with cardiovascular symptomatology.

Lorazepam was administered to 38 patients with moderate to severe anxiety associated with cardiovascular symptomatology. A comparable group of patients on placebo (35) served as controls in this 4-week study. Average dosage was 3 mg/day given as 2 mg in the evening and 1 mg in the morning. The Global response, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores, and 35-Item Self-Rating Scale scores showed lorazepam to be significantly more effective in relieving anxiety than placebo, both clinically and statistically. Adverse reactions were transient and tolerable, and were reported in only 2 patients on lorazepam.