Risk Characterization in Patients Using Benzodiazepines While Providing Pharmaceutical Care Dispensing Service

Abstract

Background: Tolerance and dependence stand out as the most relevant risks observed during benzodiazepine (BZD) treatments. Objectives: To evaluate the degree of dependence of patients on BZD treatments using the Tyrer test; to define a profile of patients at risk of developing BZD dependence; and to discuss the role of the pharmaceutical care offered by the community pharmacy during dispensing. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional descriptive observational study (August 2020–February 2021) involving 127 patients using BZD. They voluntarily answered a questionnaire during the dispensing pharmaceutical care service. The study was evaluated and codified (code: DAA-CLO-2020-01) by the Spanish Agency for Drugs and Health Products (AEMPS), and statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 25.0. Results: 19.05% of patients using BZD were suspected of suffering from BZD tolerance, and 77.88% of all patients were identified as being at a high risk of BZD dependence. The Tyrer test for dependence indicated a mean score of 5.59 out of 13 points. An 18-fold increased risk of developing dependence was detected in the case of coexistence of high anxiety or depression. Conclusions: The community pharmacy, through protocolized care practices and supported by tools such as the Tyrer test, can play a decisive role in the detection, prevention, and resolution of the risks associated with BZD treatments.

Keywords

• benzodiazepines
• dependence
• Tyrer test
• community pharmacy
• pharmaceutical care