Proper usage of benzodiazepine in Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital

Abstract

Although benzodiazepines (BZs) are widely used, their adverse effects - such as dependency - have made clinicians concerned about proper BZ usage. The Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital began performing educational activities, such as distribution of a short leaflet and running an educational workshop, on proper BZ usage. These activities were operated by the departments of psychiatry and pharmacy and a medical safety committee. The leaflet included the name, efficacy, adverse effects, and methods of discontinuing BZs, as well as providing information on coping techniques other than medication and introducing the psychiatry department. As a result of these activities, the number of patients receiving BZ prescriptions was reduced by 18%. Moreover, the BZ prescription rate in all medicated patients was reduced by 4%. No problems were reported in the survey of pharmacists. The findings suggest that our brief activity reduced BZ prescription without major problems.