Benzodiazepine and Z‐drug prescribing in Ireland: analysis of national prescribing trends from 2005 to 2015

Abstract

Benzodiazepine prescribing to the GMS population in Ireland decreased significantly from 2005 to 2015, and was coupled with significant increases in Z-drug prescribing. The study shows that benzodiazepine and Z-drug prescribing is common in this population, with high proportions of individuals receiving long-term prescriptions. Targeted interventions are needed to reduce potentially inappropriate long-term prescribing and use of these medications in Ireland.

Consumo de fármacos utilizados en el tratamiento del dolor musculoesquético en una cohorte de trabajadores manuales de Zaragoza

“…Estudios poblacionales recogen la tasa de prescripción de estos fármacos en diferentes países, observándose una amplia variabilidad. En Irlanda, la tasa en mayores de 16 años fue 16,6 % (IC 95 %: 16,5-16,7 %) en 2015 (30). En un estudio realizado en Suiza, el 9,1 % de los adultos encuestados (n = 45.309) habían recibido al menos una prescripción en un periodo de 6 meses (31).…”

Why Z-drugs are used even if doctors and nurses feel unable to judge their benefits and risks—a hospital survey

“…Many surveyed general practitioners also perceived Z-drugs as more effective and safer compared w i t h b e n z o d i a z e p i n e s [ 1 6 ] . I n a d d i t i o n , pharmacoepidemiological studies report a reduction of benzodiazepine prescribing while Z-drug prescribing is increasing [19]. Z-drugs still seem to benefit from the myth that they are similarly effective and safer alternatives to benzodiazepines, although studies show that Z-drugs also carry the same risks of daytime sedation, cognitive impairment, falls, fractures, and accidents [18].…”

Duplicated tramadol use in chronic low back pain: A nationwide cross‐sectional study

“…Although the literature on duplicated tramadol use is sparse, one study found that the 1‐year incidence rate of tramadol shopping behaviour was 1.0% (95% CI 0.7‐1.5) in France . Another study showed that the therapeutic duplication rate of NSAID/analgesic prescriptions in Korea was 13.3%, and a third study found that 2.7% of Z‐drug users in Ireland received duplicate prescriptions …”

“…Thirdly, we distinguished ED from duplication by ruling out accidentally overlapped prescriptions. By excluding those with less than 10% duplication during the total prescription period from the ED group, we tried to provide a more clinically significant definition of duplication of tramadol use than previous studies which defined one day or more of overlapping as duplication . Also, we identified factors that could affect tramadol use, including patients’ age and special comorbidities.…”

“…16 Another study showed that the therapeutic duplication rate of NSAID/analgesic prescriptions in Korea was 13.3%, 25 and a third study found that 2.7% of Z-drug users in Ireland received duplicate prescriptions. 26 Tramadol is used frequently as an alternative to NSAIDs because it has fewer side effects on the kidney or stomach, which explains its wide usage in older adults or patients with a comorbid disease. 3,27 This reason may explain why many renal failure patients who were prescribed tramadol were included in the study population and in the ED user group.…”