Use of sedatives and hypnotics prescribed in a family practice

The subsequent misuse and abuse of sedatives and hypnotics prescribed to 190 patients of the family practice program at the Medical University of South Carolina was investigated by medical record abstract and patient interviews. Results indicated little misuse and no abuse, with most respondents indicating they took fewer doses than directed. Concerns about dependence were widespread and were most likely in patients who said they never took fewer doses than directed. These patients were also more likely to have side effects. Ten percent of respondents said they had shared their sedative or hypnotic with others, usually relatives. Because of the nature of the population, mostly female and with an average age of 50 years, the results are likely to underrepresent misuse and abuse and to overrepresent concerns with dependence as compared with the general patient population. The results indicate the need for a prospective study to determine the process of becoming a misuser and factors associated with dependency fears.