The Department of Health has launched the Benzogutuna tool to promote the correct use of benzodiazepines
Personalized letters will be sent to about 20,000 patients who use benzodiazepines over a long period of time, in cases where benzodiazepines used to treat insomnia could be progressively reduced or eliminated.
Benzodiazepines. Stock Photo: Europa Press
The Department of Health of the Basque Government has launched an innovative information and awareness-raising tool called Benzogutuna , specifically aimed at patients who use benzodiazepines for a long period of time . In this context, personalized letters will be sent to about 20,000 patientsin cases where benzodiazepines used in the treatment of insomnia or anxiety may be progressively reduced or removed.
The letter, signed by the Primary Care doctor, will be accompanied by information material with recommendations for gradual and safe reduction of medication and advice on healthy sleep habits, as well as a guidance patternfor reducing the dose by 18 weeks.
According to the Department of Health, more than half of people who take benzodiazepines exceed the recommended treatment time, although the decision to start retiring benzodiazepines will be assessed individually by thedoctor based on the clinical status of each patient.
The initiative has been presented within the framework of the strategy for the correct use of benzodiazepines in the Basque Country, in Bilbao, with the participation of theDirector of Pharmacy, Iñaki Betolaza, K\u00A0, and theepidemiologist of Osakidetza, Eduardo Millán .
Prolonged consumption is particularly common among older people and women, and can be associated with addiction, loss of efficacy, cognitive disorders , or increased risk of falls .
The initiative is part of the strategy to promote the proper use of these drugs and is based on previous experiences developed in the Basque Country, where a pilot project managed to get 22% of patients to leave treatment and another 18% to reduce their dose. Currently,more than 300,000 people are kept above the recommended treatment time.
For the selectionofpatients, family doctors shall examine each case individually to verify that the patient meets the criteria and that the intervention is appropriate to his or her specific clinical situation and social and family context.
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