Incidence and Prevalence of Alprazolam and Clonazepam Consumption at the Hospital Level in Ecuador

Abstract

BackgroundThe consumption of benzodiazepines has increased worldwide due to their therapeutic properties such as anticonvulsants, sedatives, and muscle relaxants. Both men and women were consuming them at different ages. This study aims to analyze the incidence and prevalence of Alprazolam and clonazepam consumption at the IESS La Libertad Hospital to identify which patients treated in La Libertad are more likely to consume BZDMethodThe sample size was determined by patients who consumed Alprazolam or clonazepam from 2016 to 2020. A total of 1204 patients was selected who had a prescription from the psychiatrist. It was an exploratory‐descriptive methodology with an AS400 computer system, which is the official cybernetic system of the primary care Hospital at the national levelResultsClonazepam Lq. Oral 2.5 mg/ml presents a greater incidence with 28.6%, followed by Alprazolam sd. Oral 0.5 mg with 10.65% and finally with Clonazepam tablets with 8.68%. The prevalence of consumption was Clonazepam LQ. Oral 2.5ml / mg 2.34%; Clonazepam sd, oral 0.67% and Alprazolam sd. Oral 0.99% had a higher prevalence of the consumption of Clonazepam vs. Alprazolam. Additionally, the increase in medical prescription was evaluated in the five years of study. The study was shown that in 2020, there was an increase of consumption with 21%, in 2019 with 16%, 2018 with 16%.Conclusion, it was determined that of the 1204 people who had prescriptions for psychotropic drugs, 58% are women, with a lower rate than men with 42% of prescriptions—validated by the VigiAccess portal. These results indicate the increase in the consumption of psychotropic drugs at the national level that will help carry out a better study for the annual reprogramming of drugs related to the acquisition of psychotropic drugs—achieving an optimal supply, delivering the complete treatment on time.