ArticleInternational journal of clinical pharmacy2015
Role of community pharmacists in the detection of potentially inappropriate benzodiazepines prescriptions for insomnia.
Article in International journal of clinical pharmacy, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Risks Associated With Benzodiazepine Long-Term Use in Chronic Insomnia: A Systematic Review and (Network) Meta-Analysis.Journal of sleep research · 2026Pooled it
- Pitfalls of insomnia management in the elderly: A narrative review.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026Review
- ARIA-Italy managing allergic rhinitis and asthma in a changing world: The role of the Pharmacist.The World Allergy Organization journal · 2025Review
- Benzodiazepine use in Spain: risks and perspectives on the current situation and proposals for their rational use.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Article
- Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use among Underserved Older Latino Adults.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Article
- Chronic Insomnia Disorder across Europe: Expert Opinion on Challenges and Opportunities to Improve Care.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Mapping the insomnia patient journey in Europe and Canada.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
- Long-term use of benzodiazepines in chronic insomnia: a European perspective.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe appropriate management of chronic insomnia is crucial and prescribing of hypnotic drugs is common. Regular and prolonged use of hypnotics should be avoided because of the risk of tolerance to effects, dependence and an increased risk of adverse events. In 2012, updated Beers criteria for potentially inappropriate medication in older adults suggested to avoid all benzodiazepines in older adults to treat insomnia. In addition, successful discontinuation may result in improvements on cognitive and psychomotor function, particularly in older people.
objectiveTo investigate the appropriateness of benzodiazepines prescription for insomnia and explore the role that community pharmacists can have in identifying signals of potential inappropriate drug prescriptions.
settingCommunity pharmacies in Italy.
methodThis is an observational study conducted in 8 community pharmacies. Each pharmacist was asked to interview a sample of patients with the prescriptions of at least one benzodiazepine and to complete a minimum data set collecting information about socio-demographic characteristics, drug indication, duration of drug prescription, number of hypnotic-drugs, previous attempt to drug-discontinuation, preference of patients about benzodiazepine withdrawal and modality of drug tapering. Main outcome measure Indications, treatment duration, dosage and drug discontinuation attempts and modalities.
resultsA total of 181 participants were interviewed. About half of respondents (n = 81) reported to be treated for insomnia and 62 % were elderly (mean age 68, range 27-93). Fifty-two patients (64 %) were on long term treatment (>3 years) while for thirteen patients (16 %) duration of treatment was comprised between 1 and 3 years. Thirty-three patients were in favour of benzodiazepine-discontinuation but in all cases discontinuation was unsuccessful.
conclusionUse of community pharmacy survey data allowed us to obtain information about incorrect management of insomnia and inappropriate benzodiazepines prescriptions. Stricter adherence to evidence-based guidelines is essential for a rational use of hypnotic and sedatives.
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