frequency of prescribing Z drugs
Last reviewed 01/2018
The dispensing data for Z drugs has shown that there was an increase in the dispensing of the drug from 1991 - 2009.
- This increase does not mirror nor proportionally reflect the decrease in hypnotic benzodiazepine dispensing
- overall there is a decrease in total hypnotic prescribing (z-drugs and benzodiazepines) across this time frame
The General Practice Research Database (GPRD) has shown that
- Z drugs were prescribed as part of a series, rather than as a stand-alone prescription
- over 65% of prescribing episodes lasted no more than 4 weeks (in keeping with the guidelines and summary of products characteristics) (1)
Reference: