The best known ‘minor’ tranquillisers are Valium and Sere-pax. These much maligned drugs are extremely useful and are particularly safe when used according to the instructions of the doctor and the manufacturer.

As long as their well-recognised side-effects and potential withdrawal problems are remembered, any potential problems in taking the medication for more than a short period, or eventually stopping the tablets, can be overcome.

Such anti-anxiety agents are useful to reduce anxiety, particularly for those with acute pain. They can also be of value in reducing muscle spasms in chronic pain patients.

When used in .chronic pain cases they may uncover what is known as a ‘masked depression’ leading to apparent depression which is not caused by the medication but was present in a hidden form.

Another newly-introduced ‘minor’ tranquilliser is Rivotril, more commonly used in the treatment of epilepsy has been found to modify pain perception (sensation and awareness), particularly where pain is the result of damage to the nervous system. Rivotril may therefore have a special role in the pain resulting from shingles, tic douloureux and reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD).

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