Study highlights long-term prescription drug use

One-third of medical card patients receive long-term prescriptions for drugs that can lose their effect and cause problems such as falls, according to the first detailed analysis of benzodiazepine and Z-drug prescribing in Ireland.

Cathal Cadogan, lead author of ‘Benzodiazepine and Z-drug prescribing in Ireland: An analysis of national prescribing trends from 2005-2015’, said updated prescribing guidance issued in February indicates the upper limits of duration for use of these drugs is two to four weeks. Yet a third of medical card patients were receiving benzo and Z-drug prescriptions on a consecutive basis for more than three months.

Prescription rates were highest for older women (³65 years) throughout the study period.