PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Rousselot, Nicolas
AU  - Pariente, Antoine
AU  - Mansiaux, Yohann
AU  - Victorri-Vigneau, Caroline
TI  - Impact of Secured Prescription Implementation for Zolpidem on Hypnotics Use in France: A Time-Series Analysis on National Data
AID  - 10.1370/afm.2556
DP  - 2020 Jul 01
TA  - The Annals of Family Medicine
PG  - 345--348
VI  - 18
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/18/4/345.short
4100  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/18/4/345.full
SO  - Ann Fam Med2020 Jul 01; 18
AB  - We evaluated the impact of the implementation of a requirement that zolpidem prescriptions be obtained via secured forms (April 2017) on zolpidem and other hypnotics use in France. We conducted a time-series analysis on data from the French national health care system, from January 1, 2015 to January 3, 2018, for all reimbursed hypnotics. An important and immediate decrease in zolpidem use (−161,873 defined daily doses [DDD]/month; −215,425 to −108,323) was evidenced, with a concomitant raise in zopiclone use (+64,871; +26,925 to +102,817). These findings suggest that the change in zolpidem prescribing policies was effective, but has resulted in a shift from zolpidem to zopiclone. Further interventions are needed to decrease hypnotics’ overuse in France.