Abstract
A sample of 171 patients taking benzodiazepines (BZDs) who had been investigated in 1988 was followed up in 1991. From 140 patients who were still alive and willing to participate, 25% had stopped BZDs after an average duration of intake of 34 months. Of the 105 persons still taking a BZD, 37% were taking the same dose, 26% had reduced the dose and 37% had increased it. Characteristics of BZD long-term users and patients potentially at risk for abuse and/or dependence that were established from the 1988 data were reexamined: patients with continued BZD use more often suffered from somatic illness which often had deteriorated, they had a longer duration of intake and used higher daily doses. In most cases the indication was insomnia. Patients with a clinically relevant dose increase were more often males, frequently found to be dependent on alcohol and/or illegal drugs.
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Barnas, C., Whitworth, A.B. & Fleischhacker, W.W. Are patterns of benzodiazepine use predictable?. Psychopharmacology 111, 301–305 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244945
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244945