Benzodiazepines Dependence: Addiction to Legally Prescribed Substances

Gandra, Sofia S. Anna; Almeida, Agostinho Leite D; Teixeira, Zelia M.

doi:10.35248/2475-319x.19.4.149

J Foren Psy 2019

DOI: 10.35248/2475-319x.19.4.149

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Benzodiazepines Dependence: Addiction to Legally Prescribed Substances

Sofia S. Anna Gandra¹,

Agostinho Leite D Almeida²,

Zelia M. Teixeira³

Abstract: Anxiety disorders are a class of psychiatric disorders that are highly prevalent and disabling [13-15,33]. Most develop during childhood with a tendency to persist into adulthood if they are not treated properly [17,18]. Nevertheless, anxiety is a symptom also prevalent in most other psychiatric disorders [15], especially in mood disorders in depression [18].

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2022

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References 39 publications

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A Need for Benzodiazepine Deprescribing in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cohort Study

2022

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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on patients’ mental health. The aim of this study was to explore whether the pandemic influenced the use and prescription of benzodiazepines and increased the need for community pharmacist involvement in counselling on deprescribing. Electronic prescription-related data from one pharmacy in Croatia were retrospectively collected for the COVID-19 period (April 2020 to March 2021) and compared with pre-COVID-19 (April 2019 to March 2020) data. Data were collected for patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders who filled out more than one prescription for benzodiazepines, and included age, sex, number of medicines, benzodiazepines, and comorbidities. A total of 1290 benzodiazepine users were identified; of these, 32.87% started using benzodiazepines during the COVID-19 period, while 35.2% continued with benzodiazepine use. More than half of all benzodiazepine users were identified as potential deprescribing candidates (dispensed more than three prescriptions). Women, older patients, multimorbid individuals, and patients with polypharmacy were more likely to use benzodiazepines for a prolonged period. The results show a negative trend of benzodiazepine usage among community-dwelling patients during the pandemic. Community pharmacists can identify potential candidates for deprescribing and initiate a process that ensures more rational use of benzodiazepines and increases the safety of treatment.

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A Need for Benzodiazepine Deprescribing in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cohort Study

2022

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Benzodiazepines Dependence: Addiction to Legally Prescribed Substances

Cited by 1 publication

References 39 publications

A Need for Benzodiazepine Deprescribing in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cohort Study

A Need for Benzodiazepine Deprescribing in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cohort Study

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