[Patient information might reduce the use of benzodiazepines in general practice]

Information about benzodiazepines was given during a period of three months in a general practice with two doctors and 2,500 patients in group 1 of the Danish Health Insurance (low income group). The number of requests for repeated prescriptions and the number of defined daily doses of benzodiazepines were registered during periods of one month before and three months after the three month period of information with the object of assessing the patients own wishes for repeated prescription. The investigation revealed an average decrease of 35.4% of requests for repeated prescriptions and a decrease of 55.8% in the defined daily doses prescribed as compared with the month before the information period. The social consequences are discussed.