CANADIAN TRENDS IN BENZODIAZEPINE & ZOPICLONE USE
Main Article Content
Keywords
Epidemiology, cross-sectional surveys, sedative-hypnotic medications, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, population studies
Abstract
Background
Benzodiazepines (BDZs) and related sedative-hypnotic drugs can be used as symptomatic treatments for anxiety, insomnia, and agitation. Often, they are used as adjunctive treatments for mood or anxiety disorders. The frequency of use of antidepressant medications has been increasing in Canada, suggesting that effective management of mood and anxiety disorders may be occurring more often in the population. Potential adverse effects of BDZs have also been more clearly defined. It seems reasonable to hypothesize that the frequency of use of these medications may be decreasing over time, but existing published reports are dated.
Objective
To describe the frequency of sedative-hypnotic medication use in a general population sample. The longitudinal National Population Health Survey (NPHS) cohort between 1994 and 2000 was the data source for this study.
Methods
The frequency of use of BDZs and zopiclone in the NPHS was evaluated at four survey iterations: 1994/1995, 1996/1997, 1998/1999, and 2000/2001.
Results
No decline in the frequency of use over time was evident. The pattern of use resembled that previously described in Canada: there is a higher frequency in women, and the frequency of use increases with age.
Conclusion
Survey data of the type reported here cannot differentiate appropriate from inappropriate use. However, these results do indicate that the frequency of use of these medications is not declining, as might have been expected.
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