Use of Medicines from the Group of Benzodiazepines in the Period of 2003-2013 Year in the Republic of Macedonia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze the use of benzodiazepines in the period of 2003-2013 year in the Republic of Macedonia (MKD).


METHODS
The study was cross sectional and analyzes the available data on the use of benzodiazepines in the country. This study used several sources of data: Statistical Reports of the United Nations regarding the consumption of psychotropic substances; data from the Ministry of Health associated with the use of benzodiazepines (BZD), derived from reports of Ministry of Health stakeholders; Data extracted from the database of the Ministry of Health in the electronic database "My term" and Analysis of reports of Health Insurance Fund.


RESULTS
The analysis for the period 2003-2013 showed that the most consumed drug in MKD from the group of BZD is Diazepam, with 54.8 and predominantly is use of diazepam of 5 mg with 59 %. According to the Health Insurance Fund, Diazepam is second most prescribed medicaments of all medicaments with marketing authorization in MKD.


CONCLUSIONS
The analysis shows that the use of BZD in MKD is particularly high. Limited number of studies was performed for this kind of drugs relating to their effects; differences in use between genders; adult population. There is need for additional focused research that will contribute to developing a full picture of the situation.
Ministry of Health, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
Tatjana
T
Petrushevska
Institute for Epidemiology and Medical Biostatistics, Medical Faculty, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
Vesna
V
Velik Stefanovska
alprazolam; benzodiazepines; diazepam; drug consumption; drug dependence