title: [Benzodiazepine hypnotics, zolpidem and zopiclone on private prescriptions: use between 1993 and 2012].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous analyses showed that benzodiazepine hypnotics as well as zolpidem and zopiclone (Z drugs) were increasingly being dispensed on so-called private prescriptions (Privatverordnungen) in Germany. Any doctor can provide private prescriptions for prescription drugs which are fully funded by the patient. This study aimed to analyze the amount of private prescriptions for hypnotics over the last 20 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared utilization data from statutory health insurance claims with purchasing statistics from community pharmacies for the years 1993-2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1993 to 2012 purchased packages of hypnotics decreased (from 14.9 to 9.9 million). Benzodiazepines were dispensed less and Z drugs more often. In 2012 zopiclone (4.3 million packages of which 42.7 % were private prescriptions), zolpidem (3.6 million, 57.6 %) and lormetazepam (0.8 million, 57.8 %) were most often prescribed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trends in prescribing Z drugs are particularly noticeable whereby zolpidem was dispensed more often on private prescriptions than zopiclone. This seems to be further evidence for a higher dependence and abuse potential of zolpidem.
authors.affiliation: ZeS, Abteilung Gesundheitsökonomie, Gesundheitspolitik und Versorgungsforschung, Universität Bremen, 28334, Bremen, Deutschland, hoffmann@zes.uni-bremen.de.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Glaeske
mesh_terms: D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010879:Piperazines; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011725:Pyridines; D000077334:Zolpidem
chemical_list: D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; C515050:zopiclone; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077334:Zolpidem