[Good practices in prescribing benzodiazepines]

Abstract

Due to pharmacologic tolerance and dependence, benzodiazepines and z-drugs have to be used over short duration of treatment. Three pharmacokinetic characteristics should be taken into account by the prescriber: the galenic form, the plasma half-life, and the presence of an active metabolite. The patient and the prescriber should talk about possible adverse events and treatment discontinuation before treatment initiation. Treatment duration should be as short as possible et should not be longer than recommended by the marketing authorization. Several benzodiazepine drugs should not be prescribed at the same time, because there is no advantage in terms of effectiveness and adverse events may occur.