BACKGROUND: Little is known about patients' perceptions of newer hypnotics. AIM: To investigate use, experience, and perceptions of Z drug and benzodiazepine hypnotics in the community. DESIGN OF STUDY: Cross-sectional survey of general practice patients who had received at least one prescription for a Z drug or benzodiazepine in the previous 6 months. SETTING: Lincolnshire, UK. METHOD: Self-administered postal questionnaire. RESULTS: Of 1600 surveys posted, 935 (58.4%) responses were received, of which 705 (75.4%) were from patients taking drugs for insomnia. Of those 705 patients, 87.9% (n = 620) were first prescribed a hypnotic by their GP, and 94.9% (n = 669) had taken a sleeping tablet for 4 weeks or more. At least one side effect was reported in 41.8% (n = 295); 18.6% wished to come off hypnotic medication; and 48.5% had tried to stop treatment. Patients on Z drugs were more likely to express a wish to stop (22.7% versus 12.3%; odds ratio [OR] = 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13 to 2.49), or to have attempted to come off medication, than those on benzodiazepines (52.4% versus 41.0%; OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.12 to 2.12). The two groups did not differ significantly in respect of benefits or adverse effects. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in patients' perceptions of efficacy or side-effects reported by those on Z drugs compared to patients taking benzodiazepines. Side-effects were commonly reported, which may have contributed to a high proportion of responders, particularly patients on Z drugs who were wishing to stop, or who had previously tried to stop taking this medication. Reported prescribing practices were often at variance with the licence for short-term use.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about patients' perceptions of newer hypnotics. AIM: To investigate use, experience, and perceptions of Z drug and benzodiazepine hypnotics in the community. DESIGN OF STUDY: Cross-sectional survey of general practice patients who had received at least one prescription for a Z drug or benzodiazepine in the previous 6 months. SETTING: Lincolnshire, UK. METHOD: Self-administered postal questionnaire. RESULTS: Of 1600 surveys posted, 935 (58.4%) responses were received, of which 705 (75.4%) were from patients taking drugs for insomnia. Of those 705 patients, 87.9% (n = 620) were first prescribed a hypnotic by their GP, and 94.9% (n = 669) had taken a sleeping tablet for 4 weeks or more. At least one side effect was reported in 41.8% (n = 295); 18.6% wished to come off hypnotic medication; and 48.5% had tried to stop treatment. Patients on Z drugs were more likely to express a wish to stop (22.7% versus 12.3%; odds ratio [OR] = 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13 to 2.49), or to have attempted to come off medication, than those on benzodiazepines (52.4% versus 41.0%; OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.12 to 2.12). The two groups did not differ significantly in respect of benefits or adverse effects. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in patients' perceptions of efficacy or side-effects reported by those on Z drugs compared to patients taking benzodiazepines. Side-effects were commonly reported, which may have contributed to a high proportion of responders, particularly patients on Z drugs who were wishing to stop, or who had previously tried to stop taking this medication. Reported prescribing practices were often at variance with the licence for short-term use.
Authors: Cornelis S van der Hooft; Geert W 't Jong; Jeanne P Dieleman; Katia M C Verhamme; Tischa J M van der Cammen; Bruno H Ch Stricker; Miriam C J M Sturkenboom Journal: Br J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2005-08 Impact factor: 4.335
Authors: C Barnas; W W Fleischhacker; A B Whitworth; P Schett; C Stuppäck; H Hinterhuber Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 1991 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Colin A Espie; Kenneth M A MacMahon; Heidi-Louise Kelly; Niall M Broomfield; Neil J Douglas; Heather M Engleman; Brian McKinstry; Charles M Morin; Andrew Walker; Philip Wilson Journal: Sleep Date: 2007-05 Impact factor: 5.849
Authors: Kathryn L Schwienteck; Guanguan Li; Michael M Poe; James M Cook; Matthew L Banks; S Stevens Negus Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2017-04-01 Impact factor: 4.530