Benefits and risks of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs: comparison of perceptions of GPs and community pharmacists in Germany [Wie sch tzen deutsche Haus rzte und Apotheker Nutzen und Schaden von Benzodiazepinen und Z-Drugs ein?]

[english] Objective: Newer non-benzodiazepines zolpidem and zopiclone are often prescribed instead of benzodiazepine hypnotics, although there is no evidence of differences in effectiveness and safety. Aim was to compare perceptions on benefits and harms of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs between general practitioners (GPs) and community pharmacists (CPs).Methods: A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 1,350 GPs and 600 CPs in 2012. They were asked to rate perceptions on a five-point Likert scale used for both benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. Wilcoxon signed rank test was performed for the comparison of perceptions between GPs and CPs. Due to multiple testing, only p-values ≤0.01 were considered statistically significant.Results: 458 GPs and 202 CPs returned questionnaires (response 33.9% and 33.7%). Mean age of GPs was 53.3 years (40.6% female) and 48.8 years for CPs (59.2% females). Perceptions on benefits of benzodiazepines (and Z-drugs) between GPs and CPs were not different for 3 (and 2) of 5 items. Concerning side effects of benzodiazepines, there were no statistically significant differences for 3 of 5 comparisons. CPs perceived that 4 of 5 studied side effects of Z-drugs occur significantly more often than GPs (p=0.003 or less). For instance, whereas 45.2% of CPs answered that withdrawal effects on stopping happen often or very often/always on Z-drugs, these were only 28.3% of the GPs. Conclusions: Although it is difficult to draw unambiguous conclusions from these findings, pharmacists might have a somewhat more critical view on Z-drugs, especially concerning side effects. [german] Hintergrund und Fragestellung: Die neueren Benzodiazepinrezeptor-Agonisten Zolpidem und Zopiclon (“Z-Drugs”) werden in letzter Zeit h ufiger als Hypnotika vom Benzodiazepintyp verschrieben, obwohl keine Belege für Unterschiede bezüglich des Nutzens und Schaden existieren. Ziel dieser Studie war es zu vergleichen, wie Haus rzte und Apotheker erwünschte und unerwünschte Wirkungen dieser Mittel einsch tzen.Methoden: Ein schriftlicher Fragebogen wurde 2012 an eine Zufallsauswahl von 1.350 Haus rzten und 600 Apothekenleitern versendet. Die gleichen Items wurden auf einer 5-Punkte-Likert-Skala sowohl für Benzodiazepine wie Z-Drugs abgefragt. Zum Vergleich zwischen Haus rzten und Apothekern wurden Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests durchgeführt. Aufgrund der zahlreichen Tests wurden nur p-Werte ≤0,01 als statistisch signifikant angesehen.Ergebnisse: Insgesamt antworteten 458 Haus rzte und 202 Apotheker (Rücklauf 33,9% und 33,7%). Haus rzte waren durchschnittlich (40,6% weiblich)