Paradoxical Reaction to a New Minor Tranquillizer

This case report demonstrates that paradoxical reactions to the benzodiazepine class of minor tranquillizer can occur, and that lorazepam, a new derivative, is not free from this effect. It also lends support to the hypothesis that such reactions may be precipitated by a frustrating stimulus, and this has clinical relevance in that such precipitants may well be similar to those situations producing anxiety for which the drug had been prescribed.