Trends in the prescription of drugs used for insomnia in Australian general practice, 2011-2018.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nDespite an increase in the prevalence of sleep problems, few studies have investigated changes in the prescribing of drugs often used for managing insomnia.\n\n\nAIM\nTo explore changes in the pattern of benzodiazepine (BZD), z-drugs (zolpidem, zopiclone) and non-BZD prescriptions.\n\n\nDESIGN AND SETTING\nOpen cohort study including 1,773,525 patients (55,903,294 consultations) regularly attending 404 Australian general practices from 2011-2018 (MedicineInsight).\n\n\nMETHOD\nPrescription rates per 1,000 consultations, the proportion of repeat prescriptions above recommendations, and the proportion of prescriptions for patients with a recent recorded insomnia diagnosis (i.e. within 2 years) were analysed using adjusted regression models.\n\n\nRESULTS\nRates of BZD, z-drugs and non-BZD prescriptions were 56.6, 4.4 and 15.5/1,000 consultations in 2011 and 41.8, 3.5 and 21.5/1000 consultations in 2018, respectively. Temazepam represented 25.3% of the prescriptions and diazepam 21.9%. All BZD and zolpidem prescriptions declined from 2011-2018 [annual change varying from -1.4% to -10.8%], while non-BZD and zopiclone prescriptions increased in the same period [annual change: +5.0% to +22.6%]. Repeat prescriptions above recommendations remained below 10% for most medications, except melatonin (64.5%), zolpidem (63.3%), zopiclone (31.4%) and alprazolam (13.3%). In 2018, almost 50% of z-drugs and melatonin prescriptions were for patients with insomnia. There was 3.2%-5.9% annual increase in the proportion of prescriptions associated with a recently recorded insomnia diagnosis.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nOverall, BZD prescriptions in Australia declined from 2011-2018. However, the prescription of some of these drugs increased for patients with a recently recorded insomnia diagnosis. This is concerning because of potential adverse effects and risk of dependence.