The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7349 p575
14 May 2005

This article
Reprint   Photocopy

  Acrobat Reader

News summary

Benzodiazepine prescribing

Action that can be taken to reduce inappropriate prescribing of benzodiazepines and Z drugs (zopiclone, zolpidem and zaleplon) is described in the latest issue of the MeReC Bulletin (2005;15:17).

MeReC points out that large numbers of prescriptions are still being issued for hypnotic drugs despite advice issued by the Committee on Safety of Medicines in 1988. The bulletin recommends that audits are used to review and monitor prescribing rates of benzodiazepines. It also says that interventions such as writing letters to patients and medicines reviews can help reduce benzodiazepine use in long-term users.