title: [Trends in the consumption of anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs in a Colombian population].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Latin America, psychotropic medications are the third most marketed drug group, especially antidepressants (35%) and anxiolytics (5%). The objective of this study was to determine the trends in the consumption and the costs of anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs in a population of patients enrolled in the Health System of Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, observational study was performed using the data recorded inprescriptions for any anxiolytic or hypnotic drug prescribed to outpatients in the period between January 2008 and December 2013 in a population of 3.5 million people. Sociodemographic, pharmacological variables, overall costs, and cost per thousand inhabitants per day (CHD), were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of patients who received the drugs studied varied from 11,097 to 19,231 between 2008 and 2013. The most used drugs were clonazepam (44.1% of formulations), alprazolam (31.2%), and lorazepam (13.2%). The invoiced value of anxiolytics increased from US$ 207,673.63 in 2008 to US$ 488,977 in 2013, an increase of 135.4%. The CHD was US$ 0.31 for benzodiazepines, and US$ 0.02 for zaleplon, zolpidem and zopiclone (Z drugs) for 2008, and US$ 0.36 and US$ 0.02 in 2013 respectively. The CHD declined after 2010 following the introduction of generic drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients receiving benzodiazepines in Colombia are mostly women, average age 55 years, with very low frequency in defined daily doses per thousand inhabitants when compared with other countries.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de investigación en Farmacoepidemiología y Farmacovigilancia, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira-Audifarma S.A., Pereira, Colombia. Electronic address: machado@utp.edu.co.
authors.forename: Jorge Enrique
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Machado-Alba
authors.affiliation: Grupo de investigación en Farmacoepidemiología y Farmacovigilancia, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira-Audifarma S.A., Pereira, Colombia; Médico, Grupo de investigación Gerencia en Sistemas de Salud, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Colombia.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alzate-Carvajal
authors.affiliation: Médico, Grupo de investigación Gerencia en Sistemas de Salud, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Colombia; Médico, Hospital Santa Bárbara, Venadillo, Tolima, Colombia.
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Jimenez-Canizales
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia; D016527:Drug Costs; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D001569:Benzodiazepines
keywords: Ansiolíticos; Anxiolytics; Colombia (fuente DeCS); Colombia (source: MeSH); Costos de la atención en salud; Costos en fármacos; Drug costs; Drug prescriptions; Farmacoepidemiología; Health care costs; Hipnóticos y sedantes; Hypnotics and sedatives; Pharmacoepidemiology; Prescripciones de medicamentos