BENZODIAZEPINES WARNING A communication to all doctors from the Chief Medical Officer CMO's Update 37 January 2004 www.benzo.org.uk/cmo.htm
PATIENT SAFETY
6. BENZODIAZEPINES WARNING
Doctors are being reminded that benzodiazepines should only be prescribed for short-term treatment, in light of continued reports about problems with long-term use.
Clear guidance for appropriate use was published in 1988 by the Committee on Safety in Medicines (CSM), which recommended Benzodiazepine should be prescribed for:
・ just two to four weeks for relief of severe or disabling anxiety that is subjecting the patient to unacceptable distress; and
・ severe or disabling insomnia in patients who are extremely distressed.
They should not be prescribed for the treatment of mild anxiety, according to the CSM. Although prescribing of benzodiazepines has declined substantially since the release of CSM advice in 1988, prescribing has continued for patients with insomnia and anxiety and for substance mis-users.
Department of Health data show that in 2002, 30% of prescriptions for benzodiazepines were for 56 or more tablets (see box), which suggests a high number of patients are receiving long-term treatment. Long-term use exposes patients to risks such as road traffic accidents, dependence and, in the older population, debilitating falls.
