In the 4th quarter 2003, it was decided to launch a range of initiatives with the aim of maintaining and strengthening the trend at the time with an overall decreasing consumption of benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine related drugs. The consumption development over the past five years is shown below.
The consumption of benzodiazepines (BZD) as hypnotics, sedatives and anxiolytics continues to decrease, cf. table 1 and figure 1. If the total consumption of BZD in 2006 is compared with the consumption in 2003, the decrease is 16.7 per cent.
The consumption of BZD related drugs (previously mentioned as c yclopyrrolones ) has increased for a number of years. The increase of the consumption does, however, seem to have slowed down over the past few years, cf. table 1 and figure 1.
The total consumption of both BZD and BZD related drugs has decreased by 4.6 per cent in the period from 2005 to 2006, cf. table 1.
Table 1. The consumption (defined daily doses (DDD) per 1,000 inhabitants > 15 years per day) of BZD and BZD related drugs prescribed for individuals > 15 years of age in the primary health care sector, 2002-2006
| |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
BZD-anxiety |
29,4 |
28,9 |
28,3 |
27,2 |
25,7 |
Change in per cent* |
|
-1,6 |
-1,9 |
-4,1 |
-5,4 |
BZD-sleep |
16,8 |
15,4 |
14,1 |
12,6 |
11,2 |
Change in per cent |
|
-8,3 |
-8,8 |
-10,2 |
-11,2 |
All BZD |
46,1 |
44,3 |
42,4 |
39,8 |
36,9 |
Change in per cent |
|
-3,9 |
-4,3 |
-6,1 |
-7,3 |
BZD-like products |
21,7 |
23,4 |
24,3 |
24,6 |
24,5 |
Change in per cent |
|
7,7 |
3,8 |
1,2 |
-0,2 |
Total |
67,9 |
67,7 |
66,7 |
64,4 |
61,4 |
Change in per cent |
|
-0,3 |
-1,5 |
-3,5 |
-4,6 |
*Change in per cent from one year to the next.
The group ‘BZD – anxiety’ comprises benzodiazepines as anxiolytics (e.g. oxazepam) and the benzodiazepine clonazepam. The group ‘BZD – sleep’ comprises benzodiazepines as hypnotics and sedatives (e.g. nitrazepam). The group ‘BZD related drugs’ comprises medicinal products with the substances zopiclone, zolpidem and zaleplon.
Figure 1. The consumption (defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants > 15 years per day) of BZD and BZD related drugs prescribed for individuals > 15 years of age in the primary health care sector, 2002-2006
For further information, please contact Statistics and Analysis, lokstat@dkma.dk.
