Dolores Keating, Head of Pharmacy Services at Saint John of God Hospital, with Head of the RCSI School of Pharmacy, Professor Paul Gallagher 

Dolores Keating, Head of Pharmacy Services at Saint John of God Hospital, recently delivered the first lecture in the MiniMed Series organised by RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) where she outlined the history of anti-anxiety medication, ie, benzodiazepines, their risks, benefits and the significant health issues related to their use in Ireland.

Dolores, who is an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the RCSI School of Pharmacy, says: “Marketed under names like Valium, benzodiazepines are very useful in certain circumstances, for example, the short-term treatment of severe anxiety. However, as with all medications, the benefits have to be balanced against the risks for each individual patient.”