POSSIBLE TOXIC EFFECTS OF BENZODIAZEPINES;

Abstract

Introduction: Benzodiazepines and its derivatives are used widely as anxiolytics, hypnotics, seizure control and as musclerelaxants. Design: The prescriptions of 270 patients were evaluated for moderate to severe drug interactions using drug interactiondetection software. Setting: Teaching hospital in Gujrat, Pakistan. Objective: This study is used to evaluate the possible toxic effects ofbenzodiazepine related drug-drug interactions in prescriptions of indoor patients. Material & Methods: The prescriptions wereprocessed through a software program named, The Medical Letter Adverse Drug Interaction program. The randomly collected patientchart profiles included both male and female patients ranging from age of few months old children to old aged patients. Result: Out of 270patients medication charts 210 medication charts were having at least one or more drug interactions ranging from moderate to severe.Out of 80 interacting drug combinations found, 15 were benzodiazepine related drug interactions. So, percentage of benzodiazepinesrelated drug interactions was 18.75%.Moreover, the data also showed that the percentage of DDIs increases as the prescription sizeincreases. Our results indicate that hospitalized patients in Pakistan are at risk of ADRs caused by potential DDIs. Moreover, there arechances that the safe therapeutic doses of benzodiazepines may become toxic or ineffective due to drug-drug interactions andpolypharmacy. Conclusions: So, the use of DDIs detection software programs in hospitals and pharmacies should be promoted in orderto minimize drugs especially benzodiazepines related injuries and to ensure patient safety.