(75) Drug Utilization of Anxiolytics and Sedatives Among New Users in Sweden

Friday, August 26, 2022

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM CEST

Location: Hall C

Publication Number: 406

Presenting Author(s)

Elin Dahlen
– KI Research Institiute, Uppsala, Uppsala l�n, Sweden

Co-Author(s)

Carola Bardage
– Swedish Medical Products Agency, Uppsala, Sweden, Sweden
Paulina Tuvendal
– Swedish Medical Products Agency, Uppsala, Sweden, Sweden
Maria Grünewald
– Swedish Medical Products Agency, Uppsala, Sweden, Sweden
Rickard Ljung
– Swedish Medical Products Agency, Uppsala, Sweden, Sweden

Background: Anxiolytics and sedatives are commonly prescribed, and the prevalence of anxiolytics in Sweden was 4% among men and 6% among women (age 20-64 years) in 2019. Some of these drugs are addictive, and national authorities in Sweden aim to reduce the drug utilization of these, typically benzodiazepines.

Objectives: To describe the drug utilization of anxiolytics and sedatives in adults including type of drug, amount, and prescriber’s specialty.

Methods: A register-based study included new users (age 18-64 years) of anxiolytics and sedatives in January 2015-December 2019, free of any such prescription 5 years prior to inclusion. The individuals were linked to national register data on dispensed drugs, recorded diagnoses, and level of education.

Results: In total, 764 432 new users of anxiolytics and sedatives were identified during the study period, which corresponds to an incidence of 26 per 1000 inhabitants and year. The incidence was 31/1000 among women in 2015 and 30/1000 in 2019. The corresponding numbers for men were 21/1000 and 20/1000 respectively. The most common drug was hydroxizin (249 719 individuals, 33%) followed by benzodiazepine related drugs (zopiclone and zolpidem; 156 628, 20%), propiomazine (105 535, 14%) and benzodiazepines (99 221, 13%). The majority (68%) of the prescriptions were from primary care. Most new users (8 in 10) were prescribed 1-30 DDDs and 7 in 10 were dispensed their drug only once during the first year. Previous psychiatric and/or addictive disease was recorded among 15%. The proportion of new users with benzodiazepines was highest among those with the lowest level of education. The reversed pattern was seen among those with melatonin.

Conclusions: The drug utilization of benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine related drugs have decreased from 2015 to 2019. During the same period, sedative antihistamines and melatonin have increased. Most new users were only prescribed a small packaged for use up to 30 days and did not refill the prescription within one year, which is in line with national guidelines.