Impact of secured prescription implementation for zolpidem on hypnotics use in france: A time-series analysis on national data

Abstract

We evaluated the impact of the implementation of a requirement that zolpidem prescriptions be obtained via secured forms (April 2017) on zolpidem and other hypnotics use in France. We conducted a time-series analysis on data from the French national health care system, from January 1, 2015 to January 3, 2018, for all reimbursed hypnotics. An important and immediate decrease in zolpi-dem use (–161,873 defined daily doses [DDD]/month; –215,425 to –108,323) was evidenced, with a concomitant raise in zopiclone use (+64,871; +26,925 toth +102,817). These findings suggest that the change in zolpidem prescribing poli-cies was effective, but has resulted in a shift from zolpidem to zopiclone. Further interventions are needed to decrease hypnotics’ overuse in France.