Posted: 23 May 13
Edited: 8 Aug 18
Audits Central Nervous System
After non-pharmacological measures, hypnotic drug therapy is considered appropriate only for the management of insomnia, which is severe, disabling or causing intolerable stress. Hypnotics should be prescribed for short periods of time only (ideally less than 2 weeks, zaleplon maximum 2 weeks, zolpidem and zopiclone maximum 4 weeks). The drug with the lowest purchase cost per defined daily dose (ddd) should be prescribed (includes other shorter-acting hypnotics). A total of 225k was spent on hypnotics and anxiolytics in Dumfries and Galloway last year and this could be reduced as well as improving the safety and well being of our patients in D and G.