BACKGROUND Benzodiazepines have low abuse potential, but patients often develop physical dependence and neurological impairments. The objective of this study was to investigate treatment cessation and use of high doses in long-term benzodiazepine users in Colombia. METHODS Retrospective study. Patients who used benzodiazepines for at least six months (long-term) were selected from a prescription database and followed from initiation of benzodiazepine treatment for up to 30 months. We investigated treatment duration and compared patients who received normal and high (≥2 mean prescribed daily dose) doses. RESULTS Only 1255 (6.1 %) out of 20,567 patientsprescribed benzodiazepines became long-term users; their mean age was 60.6 years (SD=20.0) and 61.7 % were women. Mean high doses were used by 42.5 % (n=534) of the sample. Age under 20 years was a protector, whereas the long half-life benzodiazepines and use of other neurological medications were predictors of high dosage. Overall, 44.8 % (n=563) of the sample was still using benzodiazepines at the end of the study period. The use of antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants were negatively associated with cessation of benzodiazepine treatment. CONCLUSIONS A low proportion of patients starting benzodiazepines became long-term users. Nearly half of them used high doses and continued the medication for up to 30 months. Use of concomitant neurological drugs was associated with higher doses and less cessation.

中文翻译：

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哥伦比亚苯二氮卓的长期使用者：使用方式和停止治疗。

背景技术苯二氮杂abuse具有低的滥用潜力，但是患者经常出现身体依赖性和神经功能障碍。这项研究的目的是调查哥伦比亚长期苯二氮卓类药物使用者的戒烟治疗和大剂量使用。方法回顾性研究。从处方数据库中选择使用苯二氮卓类药物至少六个月（长期）的患者，然后开始使用苯二氮卓类药物长达30个月。我们调查了治疗时间并比较了接受正常和高剂量（≥2平均每日处方剂量）的患者。结果20567名处方苯二氮卓类药物中只有1255名（6.1％）成为长期使用者；他们的平均年龄为60.6岁（SD = 20.0），女性为61.7％。样品的42.5％（n = 534）使用了平均高剂量。20岁以下是保护者，而半衰期长的苯二氮卓类药物和使用其他神经科药物是高剂量的预兆。总体而言，在研究期结束时，仍有44.8％（n = 563）的样品仍在使用苯二氮卓类药物。抗抑郁药，抗精神病药和抗惊厥药的使用与停止使用苯二氮卓类药物负相关。结论长期使用苯二氮卓类药物的患者比例很小。他们中近一半使用大剂量并持续服药长达30个月。伴随使用神经科药物与更高剂量和更少戒烟相关。在研究期结束时，仍有8％（n = 563）的样品使用苯二氮卓类药物。抗抑郁药，抗精神病药和抗惊厥药的使用与停止使用苯二氮卓类药物负相关。结论长期使用苯二氮卓类药物的患者比例很小。他们中近一半使用大剂量并持续服药长达30个月。伴随使用神经科药物与更高剂量和更少戒烟相关。在研究期结束时，仍有8％（n = 563）的样品使用苯二氮卓类药物。抗抑郁药，抗精神病药和抗惊厥药的使用与苯二氮卓类药物治疗的停止负相关。结论长期使用苯二氮卓类药物的患者比例较低。他们中近一半使用大剂量并持续服药长达30个月。伴随使用神经科药物与更高剂量和更少戒烟相关。