Discontinuation of long-term benzodiazepine use: 10-year follow-up

Several interventions aiming at discontinuation of long-term benzodiazepine use have been proven effective in the short term. However, data on the persistence of discontinuation are lacking. To assess 10-year follow-up status in patients who succeeded in stopping benzodiazepine use after a discontin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Family practice 2011-06, Vol.28 (3), p.253-259
Main Authors: de Gier, N A H, Gorgels, W J M J, Lucassen, P L B J, Oude Voshaar, R, Mulder, J, Zitman, F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abstinence
Aged
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines - therapeutic use
Discontinued
Dosage
Drug Utilization - statistics & numerical data
Female
Follow-Up Studies
General Practice
Humans
Interventions
Male
Middle Aged
Netherlands
Primary health care
Substance-Related Disorders
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Summary:Several interventions aiming at discontinuation of long-term benzodiazepine use have been proven effective in the short term. However, data on the persistence of discontinuation are lacking. To assess 10-year follow-up status in patients who succeeded in stopping benzodiazepine use after a discontinuation letter from the patient's own GP. To identify determinants of successful discontinuation on the long term. Follow-up data of patients who participated in a large prospective, controlled stepped care intervention programme among long-term benzodiazepine users in primary care. At 10-year follow-up, the percentage of benzodiazepine abstinence was 58.8%. Non-abstinent patients used lower doses of benzodiazepine. Being abstinent at 21 months after the intervention predicted abstinence at 10-year follow-up. Ten years after a minimal intervention to decrease long-term benzodiazepine use, the majority of patients who were able to discontinue benzodiazepine use initially, does not use benzodiazepines at 10-year follow-up. Patients who did not succeed in maintaining abstinence from benzodiazepines appear to use lower or average dosages.
ISSN:0263-2136
1460-2229
DOI:10.1093/fampra/cmq113