1. Continuing Versus New Prescriptions for Sedative-Hypnotic Medications: United States, 2005–2012
- Author
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Colin A. Depp, Adam P. Spira, Christopher N. Kaufmann, and Ramin Mojtabai
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,Primary care ,AJPH Research ,Drug Prescriptions ,Medical care ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Patient age ,Sedative/hypnotic ,Humans ,Hypnotics and Sedatives ,Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Practice Patterns, Physicians' ,Medical prescription ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,business.industry ,Age Factors ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Middle Aged ,United States ,Health Care Surveys ,Family medicine ,Ambulatory ,Emergency medicine ,Female ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Objectives. To assess trends in continuing and new prescriptions for sedative-hypnotic medications, including benzodiazepines (BZDs) and non-BZD receptor agonists (nBZRAs). Methods. Data came from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and comprised 287 288 randomly sampled patient visits. Physicians reported medications prescribed and whether they were “continuing” or “new” prescriptions. We assessed trends in continuing BZD, new BZD, continuing nBZRA, and new nBZRA prescriptions from 2005 to 2012. Results. Proportions of visits with continuing prescriptions increased from 3.4% in 2005 to 4.7% in 2012 (P Conclusions. Increased sedative-hypnotic prescribing in recent years may be attributable to long-term growth in continuing prescriptions, rather than new prescriptions. Public Health Implications. Findings call for renewed efforts to limit continuing prescribing of sedative-hypnotics to reduce their use in the population.
- Published
- 2016