Year: 2004
Type: report
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Benzodiazepines are a large group of drugs used as hypnotics, \nanxiolytics, and tranquillisers, anti convulsants, pre-medication and for intravenous \nsedation. Extended use of benzodiazepines may lead to dependence and misuse. Use \nof benzodiazepines, for anxiety disorder and insomnia, is therefore just recommended \nfor short-term use. Current European prescribing guidelines for usage of \nbenzodiazepines for general anxiety is 4 weeks and 1-2 weeks for acute insomnia. \nDespite prescribing recommendations long-term use is widespread in medical \npractice, especially among elderly. For many years now concerns have been \nexpressed over the inappropriate use of benzodiazepines in Ireland. \nAim: The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of exploiting \ngovernment General Medical Services (GMS) data to provide periodic drug utilisation \nreports, and assess benzodiazepine and related drug usage in the North Eastern Health \nBoard (NEHB) region during the period January 2001 to June 2003. \nMethod: Prescription data over the GMS population, NEHB, from the GMS \nPayments Boards data records was interrogated by using the database program \nFilemaker pro 5, and the database analysis program SPSS11. \nBenzodiazepine Usage in North Eastern Health Board Region Henman, Vivero and \nGustafsson. \nResults: The results shows that the prescribing of benzodiazepines and related drugs \ngradually increased during the study period and was mainly due to an increasing for \nthe benzodiazepine-related drugs zolpidem and zopiclone. The total average number \nof Defined Daily Doses (DDDs) per prescription items for all included drugs was for \nthe period for 22 days supply. All the hypnotics had average number of DDDs per \nprescription higher than the recommend, for 14 days supply. As an example, \nFlunitrazepam, which is classified as a Schedule 3 controlled drug was on average \nprescribed for 33 days supply. In 2002 48.9% of the users had prescriptions in 3 or \nmore consecutive months, 30.3% received prescriptions in ≥ 6 consecutive months \nand 9.7% had prescriptions in every month during 2002. \nConclusion: Although this study has several limitations the results show that the \nprescribing of benzodiazepines and related drugs in the GMS population, NEHB \nduring January 2001 to June 2003 are high and that many patients seems to be longterm \nusers, which is in conflict with best clinical practice.
Authors: Martin Henman, Lisa E. Vivero, Anna Gustafsson, Kate Mulvenna
Language: English
Subfield: Geriatrics and Gerontology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Trinity College Dublin
OpenAlex ID: W142024810