Journal
PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES
Volume 67, Issue 9, Pages 1012-1018Publisher
AMER PSYCHIATRIC PUBLISHING, INC
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201500380
Keywords
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Funding
- Health Sciences Centre Foundation
- College of Pharmacy at the University of Manitoba
- Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, University of Manitoba [2009-020]
- Pfizer
- Merck
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Objective: Antibenzodiazepine campaigns have been conducted worldwide to limit the prescribing of these drugs because of concerns about inappropriate use and addiction. The causal relationship between long-term use and escalation to high doses has not been proven. This study assessed the extent of dose escalation among individuals who were long-term users of benzodiazepines or Z-hypnotics. Methods: A population-based study was conducted in the Canadian province of Manitoba using administrative health databases. Sustained use was defined as continuous use for at least two years (N=12,598). Dose escalation, measured in diazepam milligram equivalents (DMEs) per day and observed at six-month intervals, was assessed by using latent-class trajectory analysis. Characteristics of individuals with sustained use were described. Results: The analysis revealed four distinct groups. Two groups (<8% of the cohort) showed escalation to high doses ( over 40 DMEs). More than 55% of high-dose escalators were in the 0- to 44-year age group, 75% lived in urban areas, and approximately 75% had a diagnosis of depression. Clonazepam was the drug most commonly involved with dose escalation; among individuals escalating to doses higher than 60 DMEs, 91% were using clonazepam. Rates of doctor shopping and pharmacy hopping were higher among younger adults, compared with older adults. Younger adults also had higher rates of concomitant antidepressant therapy. Conclusions: A limited segment of a population that received benzodiazepine prescriptions was classified as sustained users, and a small proportion of that group escalated to doses higher than those recommended by product monographs and clinical guidelines.
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