title: Benzodiazepine use in medical out-patient clinics: a study from a developing country.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of Benzodiazepine use in the outpatient setting of general medicine clinics at a single tertiary care centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prospective prevalence study was conducted in the outpatient setting of Internal Medicine Clinics at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from November to December 2009. All subjects were interviewed after informed consent and variables were recorded on a specially-designed proforma. Apart from basic demographics and comorbid conditions, duration, frequency and route of benzodiazepine use, as well as the reason and who initiated it was noted. Chi-square test and t test was applied to see the association of socio demographic or clinical factors with the use of benzodiazepine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 355 patients, 129 (36.33%) reported using the drug. The majority (n=86; 24.2%) were taking it on a daily basis. The highest numbers of patients using the drug were suffering from cardiovascular problems, 32 (25%) followed by 22 (17%) from endocrinology. Diazepam equivalent dose was around 7.04+4, with a inter-quartile range of 3-96 weeks. Alprazolam (9%) was the most frequently prescribed Benzodiazepine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Benzodiazepine use is alarmingly high in the outpatient clinics of General Internal Medicine Department. There is no implementation of law to prevent its hazardous sale. In this regard all concerned should work collectively for awareness and irrational drug sale and use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Muhammad Junaid
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmer
authors.forename: Faheem
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Abdullah Waqar Ahmed
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Muhammad Farrukh
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Shehzad
authors.forename: Sania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muzaffar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D001569:Benzodiazepines