First-Time Use versus Continuing Use of Benzodiazepine Receptor Agonists in Japan / 医薬品情報学

ABSTRACT

Benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZs) are medications to be used with caution, not only for long-time users, but also for first-time users. This study aimed to compare the use of BZs or central nervous system (CNS) agents in first-time BZs users (FU) and continuing BZs users (CU). Using a large health insurance claims database in Japan, BZs users aged ≥40 years in 2013 who were opioid non-users without hospitalization were classified into FU or CU, by use of BZs in the first half-year. BZs or CNS agent use at the index date (the first date BZs were dispensed in the latter year) was investigated as follows (1) proportion of patients with prescriptions of BZs for use as needed (BZs-AN), (2) daily number of BZs or CNS agents, and (3) daily standardized dose of BZs or CNS agents. More individuals in the FU group (3,162/16,576; 19%) than in the CU group (7,627/46,088; 17%) received BZs-AN (p＜0.001); 87% of the FU group vs 62% of the CU group used single BZs (p＜0.001), and 53% vs 24% used less than 5 mg/day of equivalent diazepam (p＜0.001). A similar trend was found for CNS agents. Numbers or doses of BZs or CNS agents decreased with increasing age in both groups. However, some first-time users aged 70-74years started with ≥2 types of BZs or ≥10 mg/day of equivalent diazepam. Overall, BZs for outpatients without opioids were started carefully, but a prescription review was necessary for some patients, requiring more effort from healthcare providers.