A review of the utilization of sedative-hypnotic drugs in a general hospital.

A retrospective review of 493 patients treated during a single month in a general hospital in mid-Michigan revealed that a majority (84.2%) of them received prescriptions for sedative-hypnotic drugs. These were p.r.n. in 66% of cases and routine prescriptions in the remainder. Prescriptions were equally distributed across the specialties: internal medicine 15%, surgery 23%, family practice 19%, psychiatry 22%, and OB/GYN 20%. Flurazepam was the most frequently prescribed drug (48.4%), followed by triazolam (24.6%) and temazepam (12.2%). Actual utilization rates were highest among psychiatric patients (85%) and lowest in obstetrics (33%). The therapeutic rationale for prescribing sedative hypnotic agents to hospitalized patients is discussed.