title: A review of the utilization of sedative-hypnotic drugs in a general hospital.
abstract: A retrospective review of 493 patients treated during a single month in a general hospital in mid-Michigan revealed that a majority (84.2%) of them received prescriptions for sedative-hypnotic drugs. These were p.r.n. in 66% of cases and routine prescriptions in the remainder. Prescriptions were equally distributed across the specialties: internal medicine 15%, surgery 23%, family practice 19%, psychiatry 22%, and OB/GYN 20%. Flurazepam was the most frequently prescribed drug (48.4%), followed by triazolam (24.6%) and temazepam (12.2%). Actual utilization rates were highest among psychiatric patients (85%) and lowest in obstetrics (33%). The therapeutic rationale for prescribing sedative hypnotic agents to hospitalized patients is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Michigan State University, St. Lawrence Hospital, Lansing 48915.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Picone
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: D'Mello
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Foote
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Msibi
mesh_terms: D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008824:Michigan; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013038:Specialization
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs