Alprazolam in the Treatment of Anticipatory and Acute Situational Anxiety in Children with Cancer

A population of childhood cancer patients who undergo scheduled, periodic, stressful events such as bone marrow aspirations and spinal taps was chosen as a model for the investigation of the use of alprazolam in the treatment of anticipatory and acute situational anxiety in children. An open-label dose-ranging study was completed on 13 children. Because this was an early trial of a drug not approved for use in children, doses were low. Nonetheless, safe efficacious use of alprazolam was demonstrated and indicates that antianxiety agents may have a useful purpose for brief intervention situations in children.