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Benzodiazepine prescribing and dependance: time for a rethink?.

Pavan Chahl   (13 August 2006)

Benzodiazepine prescribing and dependance: time for a rethink?. 13 August 2006
Pavan Chahl, Psychiatrist Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust Send letter to journal: Re: Benzodiazepine prescribing and dependance: time for a rethink?. pavandridoc{at}rediffmail.com Pavan Chahl	One issue relevant to this article is that of benzodiazepine prescribing in both primary and tertiary care. I am struck by the poor levels of awareness and lack of motivation from professionals in reducing prescriptions of benzodiazepines to their patients. The problem is more serious in areas with a more deprived patient population. There is an urgent need to highlight and address this deficiency. I propose the following ways forward -(a) Increasing awareness among patients, GP's, psychiatrists and nurses of the long term effects of benzodiazepines in terms of dependance, tolerance and the impact of these medications in maintaining anxiety and depression. (b) Stricter laws for all classes of benzodiazepines. (c) Clear lines of responsibility once prescriptions have been initiated. (d) A single point of origin for prescriptions, rather than both the GP and the psychiatrist prescribing the medication. (e) Working closely with GP's in managing this problem. And finally (f) highlighting this problem to trainee psychiatrists from the start of their training. I believe that there are too may patients whose diagnosis has changed from an anxiety disorder to benzodiazepine dependance and too much clinic time is being taken up by this patient subgroup in both GP and psychiatric clinics. There is a need for more discussion on this issue.