Assessment of dependence and anxiety among benzodiazepine users in a provincial municipality in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Schallemberger, Janaína Barden; Colet, Christiane de Fátima

doi:10.1590/2237-6089-2015-0041

Cited by 12 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(15 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In the current study, the majority of the patients prescribed BZDs were adults aged 34 -60 years. [14] Interestingly, a study in Pakistan reviewing BZD use in outpatient clinics found the average age of BZD users to be 45 years, which is much younger than in our study. [18] Similarly, an SA study in 2004 reviewing BZD prescriptions from private healthcare patients found the mean age to be 43.17 years.…”

Section: Researchcontrasting

confidence: 67%

“…[13] Similarly, a study in Brazil's public healthcare sector assessing dependence and anxiety in BZD users also found clonazepam to be the most widely used BZD. [13,14] There are no studies on BZD utilisation from African countries other than SA. Notably, two of the four studies from SA also demonstrated that long-acting BZDs are most commonly used.…”

Section: Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A retrospective review on benzodiazepine use: A case study from a chronic dispensary unit

Singh

Oosthuizen

2019

S Afr Med J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background. Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are highly effective hypnotic and anxiolytic agents and among the most frequently used drugs in the world, but there are significant disadvantages associated with their use. Identifying possible irrational BZD prescribing is important to ensure safe and effective use of these agents. No studies have been conducted in other African countries, and this is the only study in the Western Cape (WC) Province of South Africa (SA), highlighting the paucity of local research. Objectives. To identify the most commonly prescribed BZDs at a chronic dispensary unit (CDU) in the WC and describe the indications, co-prescribing patterns and patient factors in different areas of the WC. Methods. A retrospective, quantitative study was carried out using prescription data from a CDU in the Western Cape Department of Health, SA. Data for January 2017 were analysed. Associations between BZD therapeutic indications and co-prescribing patterns were assessed, together with demographic data. Data were coded and descriptive and inferential analysis was done using Stata version 14. Results. A total of 1 396 prescriptions met the inclusion criteria and were analysed. Overall, clonazepam was the most frequently prescribed BZD (n=691 prescriptions, 49.5%), followed by diazepam (n=298, 21.4%), lorazepam (n=222, 15.9%) and oxazepam (n=185, 13.3%). The most common therapeutic indication for BZDs was epilepsy (n=294, 21.1%), followed by depression (n=166, 11.9%) and depression with concomitant anxiety (n=79, 5.7%). The most common concomitant drug class associated with BZD use was antiepileptics (n=1 581), followed by other BZDs (n=706) and analgesics and antipyretics (n=665). Female patients were more likely than males to be prescribed BZDs (p<0.001), and the mean (standard deviation) age of BZD users was 51.3 (19.5) years. Conclusions. BZDs were most commonly prescribed to female patients and middle-aged adults. Clonazepam was the most frequently prescribed BZD, indicating a preference for long-acting BZDs. Epilepsy was the most common therapeutic indication and antiepileptics were the most common concomitant drug class prescribed, implying that BZDs have a primary role in the management of epileptic conditions in the public healthcare sector. Future studies should include the private sector, as regulations in the public sector greatly influence the patterns of BZD use.

show abstract

Section: Researchcontrasting

confidence: 67%

Section: Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

A retrospective review on benzodiazepine use: A case study from a chronic dispensary unit

Singh

Oosthuizen

2019

S Afr Med J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Despite a high addiction potential, benzodiazepines are among the most prescribed drugs for anxiety and one of the most used drug classes in the world [63,64]. A quick solution of one mental disorder may produce another mental disorder-dependence.…”

Section: Anxiety Anxiety-related Substance Abuse or Dependence And mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Women use psychotropic medication consistently more often compared to men and these differences also appear to be contingent on the specific mental disorder [66]. Benzodiazepine use was shown to be higher among women, in older age groups, when burdened with a severe degree of anxiety, and with decreasing income level [63][64][65][66][67].…”

Section: Anxiety Anxiety-related Substance Abuse or Dependence And mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Reproductive Aging: Perimenopause and Psychopathological Symptoms

Geršak¹,

Gersak²,

Turčin³

2018

Sex Hormones in Neurodegenerative Processes and Diseases

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The female reproductive axis essentially comprises of the hypothalamic-pituitaryovarian axis and the mullerian-derived structures. The reproductive axis ages to a nonfunctional state (menopause) much earlier than the other organ systems do, at a time when a woman is otherwise healthy. The basis of reproductive senescence in women is oocyte depletion in the ovary. Perimenopause is defined by menstrual cycle and endocrine changes, such as disturbed ovarian-pituitary-hypothalamic feedback relationships, inaccurate estrogen levels, and decreased progesterone levels. Many psychopathological changes can take place, but most commonly women experience mild cognitive impairment, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, and depression. Estrogens influence depression and depressive-like behavior through interactions with neurotropic factors and through an influence on the serotonergic system.

show abstract