During the 4th quarter 2003 it was decided that a range of initiatives were to be launched with the purpose of maintaining and strengthening the current tendency of a total decreasing consumption of benzodiazepines (sleeping medicine, tranquilisers and anti-anxiety agents) as well as cyclopyrrolones. The consumption development is shown below.
When the quantity consumption from 4th quarter 2003 is compared with the latest figures, 4th quarter 2005, it appears that the consumption of benzodiazepines has decreased by 14.6 per cent. If the cyclopyrrolones are included, the consumption has dropped 8.6 per cent (Table 1).
When the number of new users in the 4th quarter 2003 and the 4th quarter 2005 are compared, it appears that the number of new benzodiazepine users fell by 18.1 per cent (anti-anxiety agents) and 22.5 per cent (sleeping medicine and tranquilisers) respectively, and the number of new cyclopyrrolone users decreased by 9.6 per cent. (Table 2).
Table 1. The consumption measured in daily doses/1,000 inhabitants/day for benzodiazepines (sleeping medicine, tranquilisers and anti-anxiety agents respectively) and cyclopyrrolones, 4th quarter 2000 – 4th quarter 2005.
| |
2000-4 |
2001-4 |
2002-4 |
2003-4 |
2004-4 |
2005-4 |
Decrease in percentages (2003-4 to 2005-4) |
Benzodiazepines, anti-anxiety agents * |
27.0 |
26.5 |
26.0 |
25.4 |
24.4 |
22.5 |
11.4 |
Benzodiazepines, sleeping medicine and tranquilisers ** |
18.7 |
17.6 |
16.7 |
15.1 |
13.6 |
12.1 |
19.9 |
Cyclopyrrolones*** |
20.3 |
21.3 |
22.5 |
24.6 |
24.7 |
24.9 |
-1.2 |
Benzodiazepines total |
45.7 |
44.2 |
42.7 |
40.5 |
38.0 |
34.6 |
14.6 |
Benzodiazepines and cyclopyrrolones total |
66.0 |
65.4 |
65.2 |
65.1 |
62.7 |
59.5 |
8.6 |
Table 2. The number of new users of benzodiazepines (sleeping medicine, tranquilisers and anti-anxiety agents respectively) and cyclopyrrolones, 4th quarter 2000 – 4th quarter 2005.
| |
2000-4 |
2001-4 |
2002-4 |
2003-4 |
2004-4 |
2005-4 |
Decrease in percentages (2003-4 to 2005-4) |
Benzodiazepines, anti-anxiety agents * |
23,789 |
20,185 |
17,469 |
15,787 |
14,230 |
12,925 |
18.1 |
Benzodiazepines, sleeping medicine and tranquilisers ** |
6,015 |
4,802 |
4,227 |
3,558 |
2,839 |
2,756 |
22.5 |
Cyclopyrrolones *** |
21,684 |
19,225 |
18,782 |
18,446 |
17,150 |
16,679 |
9.6 |
Notes:
*: ATC group N05BA
**: ATC group N05cd
***: ATC group N05CF
For further information, please contact Hans Klarskov Madsen on tel.: +45 4488 9171.
