Discontinuation of Long-Term Benzodiazepine Use: 10-Year Follow-Up
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Several interventions aiming at discontinuation of long-term benzodiazepine use have been proven effective in the short term. However, data on the persistence of discontinuation are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To assess 10-year follow-up status in patients who succeeded in stopping benzodiazepine use after a discontinuation letter from the patient's own GP. To identify determinants of successful discontinuation on the long term. METHODS: Follow-up data of patients who participated in a large prospective, controlled stepped care intervention programme among long-term benzodiazepine users in primary care. RESULTS: At 10-year follow-up, the percentage of benzodiazepine abstinence was 58.8%. Non-abstinent patients used lower doses of benzodiazepine. Being abstinent at 21 months after the intervention predicted abstinence at 10-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Ten years after a minimal intervention to decrease long-term benzodiazepine use, the majority of patients who were able to discontinue benzodiazepine use initially, does not use benzodiazepines at 10-year follow-up. Patients who did not succeed in maintaining abstinence from benzodiazepines appear to use lower or average dosages.
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One study reported an abstinence rate of 24% at 6 months following a simple letter from the prescribing doctor, and this rate fell to 7% ten years later.
“For example, one study reported an abstinence rate of 24% at 6 months following a simple letter from the prescribing doctor [73], and this rate fell to 7% ten years later [74].”
From Cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy for the discontinuation of long-term benzodiazepine use in insomnia and anxiety disorders (2021) · cites this paper as [74]
The citation to this paper [74] is attached to the ten-year figure. The Results (Baseline characteristics; page unavailable) report 58.8% abstinence at ten years among patients who had stopped after the GP’s letter, not 7%. The 24% at six months is attached to a different citation [73]. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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- Authors
- de Gier, N., Gorgels, W., Lucassen, P., Oude Voshaar, R., Mulder, J., & Zitman, F.
- Affiliations
- Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
- Leiden University (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Lucassen, P.
- Venue
- Family Practice
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2010-12-30
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 253-259
- ISSN
- 0263-2136 (ISSN-L)
- 1460-2229
- OpenAlex
- W2139293776
- Cited by
- 43
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 1.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Family Practice (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Keywords
- benzodiazepine discontinuation, long-term benzodiazepine use, stepped-care intervention, primary care, long-term follow-up
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Benzodiazepines, Drug Utilization, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Netherlands, Substance-Related Disorders, General Practice
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