A study of the extent of hospital inpatient prescribing of benzodiazepines and their continuation at discharge was carried out on all patients admitted to St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, during a 7-day period. A large majority (73.6%) were not prescribed benzodiazepines at any time. No discharge prescriptions for these drugs were initiated in hospital. The data do not suggest that hospital prescribing of benzodiazepines is contributing to community prescribing.
TaylorD.Current usage of benzodiazepines in Britain. In: FreemanH., RueY.The benzodiazepines in current clinical practice.London: Royal Society of Medicine Services, 1987
2.
DavidsonJ.R.T., RaftD., LewisB.F., GebhardtM.Psychotropic drugs on general medical and surgical wards of a teaching hospital. Arch Gen Psychiatry1975; 32: 507–11
TurnerP.Benzodiazepines and the general physician. In: FreemanH., RueY.The benzodiazepines in current clinical practice.London: Royal Society of Medicine Services, 1987
5.
RodnigoE.K., KingM.B., WilliamsP.Health of long term benzodiazepine users. Br Med J1988; 296: 603–5
6.
MorganK., DallassoH., EbrahimS., ArieT., FentenP.H.Prevalence, frequency and duration of hypnotic drug use among the elderly living at home. Br Med J1988; 296: 601–2
7.
NazarethI.D., KingM.B.Prescribing of benzodiazepines by casualty officers. J R Soc Med1989; 82: 276–7
8.
Committee on the Review of Medicines. Systematic review of the benzodiazepines. Br Med J1980; 280: 910–12
