BENZODIAZEPINES WITH SLOWER RATE OF ACTION MAY HAVE LESS ABUSE POTENTIAL; SCHEDULING FOR EXISTING BENZOS RULED APPROPRIATE BY FDA HEARING PARTICIPANTS

Slower acting benzodiazepines may have a lower abuse potential, John Roache, PhD, University of Texas, suggested at a Sept. 11 FDA public hearing on criteria for benzodiazepine scheduling in Washington, D.C. FDA convened a panel to examine whether data support differential scheduling of individual members of the benzodiazepine class, which have been collectively placed in Schedule IV since 1984.