title: 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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N A H
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: de Gier
authors.forename: W J M J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gorgels
authors.forename: P L B J
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lucassen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oude Voshaar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zitman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
chemical_list: D001569:Benzodiazepines