[Varying prescriptions of benzodiazepines in general practice]

The aim of this study was to describe differences in patterns of benzodiazepine prescription in Svendborg. All benzodiazepine prescriptions filled by the two pharmacies in Svendborg between February and 31 March 1990 were registered. During the period, 3364 prescriptions were issued to 2262 persons (1837 tranquillizers and 1272 sedatives). General practitioners provide about 90% of benzodiazepine prescriptions. Practices with a high prescription level accounted for four times as many prescriptions as did practices with a low prescription level. By comparing the prescription level and the composition of the practice population we found that practices with a high prescription level had more women and elderly people enrolled than had the practices with a low prescription level. After standardization for age and sex the difference was reduced from 3.8 to 2.8, but practices with many elderly and female patients still provided more benzodiazepine prescriptions. Major benzodiazepine consumers (> 2 DDD/per day) constricted for 8.8% of the total amount of consumers and accounted for about 25% of the benzodiazepines prescribed during the investigation period. The number of major consumers enrolled in a practice varied between 2.8 to 13.0 per/1,000 patients. The difference in the prescription pattern could to a certain extent be explained by this difference, but there would still be a difference that can not be accounted for in our study. However, we anticipate that this variation could be due to differences in procedures and attitudes to the prescription of benzodiazepines.