Intervention against the excessive use of anxiolytica and hypnotica in two general practices

Abstract

This publication describes the successful reduction in the use of benzodiazepines as anxiolytics by 87%, as well as the reduction in the use of benzodiazepines and cyclopyrrolones as hypnotics by 92%, for two general practitioners over a period of three years. The measures implemented were few and simple: • Cessation of telephone prescriptions. • Issue of prescriptions only following consultation. • Prescriptions limited to a single months requirements. At each monthly consultation, the patient as well as the practitioner was required to re-evaluate the need and extent of the subsequent prescriptions. During the first three months, only four to five additional consultancies per week per 1000 patients were required. Subsequently, this number was stabilized at approximately one additional consultancy per week. The routine implementation of the aforementioned simple procedure is to be recommended for the ordination of BD and CP drugs, as the effect is both significant and persistent.