A review of the utilization of sedative-hypnotic drugs in a general hospital.
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.
Picone
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DA
Department of Psychiatry, Michigan State University, St. Lawrence Hospital, Lansing 48915.
D'Mello
D A
DA
Foote
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ML
Msibi
B
B
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
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs