| Abstract [eng] |
The Peculiarities of Benzodiazepines and Zolpidem Consumption in Lithuania, The Master’s thesis on ‘The Peculiarities of Benzodiazepines and Zolpidem Consumption in Lithuania’ by Snieguole Ambrasiene and Edita Puluikiene. The aim of the research: to analyse the peculiarities of benzodiazepines and zolpidem consumption in Lithuania. The tasks of the research: to figure out the indications and side effects of benzodiapines and zolpidem consumption; to analyse knowledge of the population on benzodiazepines and zolpidem; to evaluate factors leading to irrational consumption of benzodiazepines and zolpidem. Methods of the research: for data gathering an anonymous questionnaire was used, the research sample – 145 respondents. The SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) software was applied for data calculation. The research participants: the resident population of Lithuania now taking or ever taken benzodiazepines. The research results: the most frequent tranquilisers are lorazepam 2.5 mg (34.5% of the respondents), bromazepam 3 mg (33.1% of the respondents) and zolpidem 10 mg (20.7% of the respondents). Lorazepam 2.5 mg is significantly frequently taken by older people (p=0.001), the unemployed and pensioners (p=0.000); bromazepam 3 mg is significantly frequently used by younger people (p=0.013). For most of the respondents (66.4%) benzodiazepines were prescribed for the first time by a family doctor, and only less than every fourth—by a psychiatrist. It was figured out that benzodiazepines are significantly frequently prescribed to older people for insomnia (p=0.001). It was estimated that pensioners take benzodiazepines significantly frequently for 5 years and longer (p=0.000). 61.5% of the respondents do not know for how long benzodiazepines can be taken. Only 12.7% of the respondents know about new generation medicine for treating insomnia and anxiety. Conclusions: benzodiazepines usually are prescribed for treating insomnia and anxiety. Lorazepam usually is taken by older people, bromazepam—for younger people; the side effects are similar for both age groups. Most residents take benzodiazepines for a long time, they are not aware of the duration of the usage of benzodiazepines, their interactions with other medicine, are not introduced to a new generation medicine. Benzodiazepines were prescribed for the first time by family doctors and not by psychiatrists. Therapists and pharmacists seldom give information about side effects of the benzodiazepines (44.8% of the respondents); family doctors do not propose to discontinue their usage (57.9% of the respondents). Key words: benzodiazepines, lorazepam, bromazepam, zolpidem, consumption peculiarities. |
