Are patterns of benzodiazepine use predictable ? A follow-up study of benzodiazepine users

A sample of 171 patients taking benzodiazepines (BZDs) who had been investigated in 1988 was followed up in 1991. From 140 patients who were still alive and willing to participate, 25% had stopped BZDs after an average duration of intake of 34 months. Of the 105 persons still taking a BZD, 37% were...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychopharmacologia 1993-06, Vol.111 (3), p.301-305
Main Authors: BARNAS, C, WHITWORTH, A. B, FLEISCHHACKER, W. W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Anti-Anxiety Agents
Benzodiazepines
Biological and medical sciences
Drug Prescriptions
Drug Utilization
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neuropharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Prognosis
Psycholeptics: tranquillizer, neuroleptic
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopharmacology
Risk Factors
Substance-Related Disorders - psychology
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Summary:A sample of 171 patients taking benzodiazepines (BZDs) who had been investigated in 1988 was followed up in 1991. From 140 patients who were still alive and willing to participate, 25% had stopped BZDs after an average duration of intake of 34 months. Of the 105 persons still taking a BZD, 37% were taking the same dose, 26% had reduced the dose and 37% had increased it. Characteristics of BZD long-term users and patients potentially at risk for abuse and/or dependence that were established from the 1988 data were reexamined: patients with continued BZD use more often suffered from somatic illness which often had deteriorated, they had a longer duration of intake and used higher daily doses. In most cases the indication was insomnia. Patients with a clinically relevant dose increase were more often males, frequently found to be dependent on alcohol and/or illegal drugs.
ISSN:0033-3158
1432-2072
DOI:10.1007/BF02244945