Study, Apr./17: "Emergency department visits involving benzodiazepines and..."

The full title of this American study is "Emergency department visits involving benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine receptor agonists".

RESULTS:

"Nineteen percent of visits involving other sedative-hypnotics, 28% involving BZDs-only, 20% involving nBZRAs-only and 48% involving a combination of BZDs and nBZRAs resulted in a serious disposition. Compared to visits involving other sedative-hypnotics, visits involving BZDs-only had 66% greater odds (Odds Ratio [OR]=1.66, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=1.37-2.01), and visits involving a combination of BZDs and nBZRAs had almost four times increased odds of a serious disposition (OR=3.91, 95% CI=2.38-6.41). Results were similar across age groups."

CONCLUSIONS:

"Findings highlight the need for clinical and regulatory initiatives to reduce BZD use, especially in combination with nBZRAs, and to promote treatment with safer alternatives to these medications."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28476551 

Yes, PLEASE reduce benzodiazepine use!