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. 2024 Mar 27;12(2):56.
doi: 10.3390/pharmacy12020056.

Irrational Use of Medications among Adults with Insomnia: An Observational Study at a Sleep Clinic in Mexico

Lucelya Carvalho-Silva  1 , Ulises Jiménez-Correa  2 , Rafael Santana-Miranda  2 , Ivo Heyerdahl-Viau  1 , Jonatan Benitez-Morales  3 , Mireya García-Casas  4 , Juan Manuel Martínez-Núñez  1
Affiliations

Irrational Use of Medications among Adults with Insomnia: An Observational Study at a Sleep Clinic in Mexico

Lucelya Carvalho-Silva et al. Pharmacy (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: To determine the patterns of irrational use of medications among a sample of adult patients with insomnia.

Methods: We included 89 adult patients diagnosed with chronic insomnia who had consumed medications for this disorder during the 12 months prior to admission to a specialized Sleep Disorders Clinic (SDC) in Mexico City. With a 13-item survey, information was gathered on patterns of medication use and irrational use, considering therapeutic indications, dose, route of administration, and duration of treatment.

Results: The participants had taken hypnotics (65%), antidepressants (21%), anticonvulsants (8%), and antipsychotics (6%), and 92% had irrational use of their medication. Irrational use was greatest with benzodiazepines and antipsychotics. There were two main types of irrational use: (1) 47% of participants had consumed a drug unsuitable for their condition, although it was almost always prescribed by a doctor, and (2) 43% had consumed a drug for longer than the maximum time recommended.

Conclusion: It is worrisome to find that the irrational use of medications to treat insomnia, especially benzodiazepines and antipsychotics is widespread. Although most participants had acquired their medication by prescription, for many the drug was inappropriate to treat their condition. It should be mandatory that patients with insomnia receive specialized medical attention in primary clinical care.

Keywords: anticonvulsants; antidepressants; antipsychotics; hypnotics; insomnia; irrational use of drugs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Types and distribution of drugs used by the participants in the study during the 12 months prior to consulting the SDC: (A) hypnotics, (B) antidepressants, (C) anticonvulsants, and (D) antipsychotics.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Types and prevalence of irrational use of hypnotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants among individuals with insomnia. (A) Type of irrational use, and (B) Irrational use by type of drug.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Manner of acquiring medications for the treatment of insomnia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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