also examined the extent of alcohol involvement in fatal self-poisoning as concerns have been raised about the interactions of these drugs with alcohol. (Koski et al., 2002) Methods In this analysis of data on suicides, prescriptions and self-poisonings in England (2005-2012), we investigated the relative toxicity of the following benzodiazepine/sedative medications: diazepam, temazepam, chlordiazepoxide, lorazepam, nitrazepam, and zopiclone and zolpidem. The were grouped into ‘Z-drugs’ a single group of in keeping with data from the Clinical Practice ‘zopiclone/zolpidem’, Research Datalink. Data on prescriptions as provided by CPRD did not differentiate between the Z-drugs because only 1% of the prescriptions were for zolpidem. The remaining were for zopiclone. This led to our decision to merge zopiclone and zolpidem into a single category in all analyses. Data from ONS and from the Multicentre Study of Self-harm in England, in which are recorded separately, showed that the vast ‘Z-drugs’ majority of events involving these drugs (86% and 93%, respectively) were due to the ingestion of zopiclone, a figure consistent with data from the NHS Business Services Authority.(NHS Business Services Authority 2012) Data used in this study were for the eight complete years 2005 to 2012. We obtained data separately by gender and by single year of age. Data sources Deaths. Information on deaths due to self-poisoning with benzodiazepine/hypnotic medications was provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on deaths
also examined the extent of alcohol involvement in fatal self-poisoning as concerns have been raised about the interactions of these drugs with alcohol. (Koski et al., 2002) Methods In this analysis of data on suicides, prescriptions and self-poisonings in England (2005-2012), we investigated the relative toxicity of the following benzodiazepine/sedative medications: diazepam, temazepam, chlordiazepoxide, lorazepam, nitrazepam, and zopiclone and zolpidem. The ‘Z-drugs’ were grouped into a single group of ‘zopiclone/zolpidem’, in keeping with data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Data on prescriptions as provided by CPRD did not differentiate between the Z-drugs because only 1% of the prescriptions were for zolpidem. The remaining were for zopiclone. This led to our decision to merge zopiclone and zolpidem into a single category in all analyses. Data from ONS and from the Multicentre Study of Self-harm in England, in which ‘Z-drugs’ are recorded separately, showed that the vast majority of events involving these drugs (86% and 93%, respectively) were due to the ingestion of zopiclone, a figure consistent with data from the NHS Business Services Authority.(NHS Business Services Authority 2012) Data used in this study were for the eight complete years 2005 to 2012. We obtained data separately by gender and by single year of age. Data sources Deaths. Information on deaths due to self-poisoning with benzodiazepine/hypnotic medications was provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on deaths
Relative_toxicity_of_benzodiazepines_accepted_version.docx