[Deregistration of barbiturates. A follow-up study after 1 year]

On January 1st 1986, all hypnotics and sedatives containing barbiturates were removed from the Danish Drug Register. After one year, a follow-up investigation of previous barbiturate users was undertaken with the object of investigating the significance of various factors for cessation or continuation of use of psychotropic drugs in connection with the removal of barbiturates from the Danish Drug Register. The investigation was carried out of a questionnaire investigation in general practice with participation of 82 practices. Information was obtained concerning 141 previous barbiturate users. Twenty-four of these had stopped (17%, 95% confidence limits 11-23) having psychotropic drugs prescribed during the course of the year in question. In particular, patients without or with slight mental conditions ceased using drugs (p = 0.02). An age and sex stratified analysis revealed that more patients who had obtained the preparation by direct doctor-patient contact stopped the habit (odds ratio 3.00, 95% confidence limits 1.04-8.61). Other factors were without significant significance for continued use or cessation, respectively. In 75% of the patients, adjustment was, in the opinion of the general practitioner, easy. Out of 105 patients who continued to have psychotropic drugs prescribed and where the preparation employed was known, 90 (86%) were prescribed benzodiazepines.