Psychiatrist describes Medical Council views on benzodiazepines as 'utterly alarmist'

A leading psychiatrist has described as “utterly alarmist” and “frightening for doctors and patients” Medical Council advice that raises concerns about over-prescribing of benzodiazepines.

Ted Dinan, who recently retired as Professor of Psychiatry at University College Cork (UCC) said the view from the Council was that taking benzodiazepines “is a bit like taking opiates and that is simply not true”.