- GPs
did not like prescribing drugs but were not sure what else they could do or how
to do this
- Compared
to anxiety where GPs tended to use or refer for psychological treatments for
insomnia, drugs were often an early choice of treatment, particularly Z drugs
over benzodiazepine hypnotics
- GPs
positive to initiatives to reduce inappropriate prescribing
GPs
felt that prescribing hypnotics was appropriate in some circumstances. Overall
GPs did not like prescribing hypnotics, particularly long term. However,
whereas they tended to use psychological treatments for anxiety they often
resorted to drugs for insomnia. They
liked Z-drugs because they through they were more effective, less likely to
cause side effects, tolerance and addiction – although there was little
evidence for these beliefs. They
were positive to initiatives to reduce inappropriate hypnotic prescribing.
References
Siriwardena
AN, Qureshi
Z, Gibson S et al. Family doctors’ attitudes and behaviour to benzodiazepine
and Z drug prescribing. BJGP
2006; 56: 964-967.
Siriwardena
AN et al. General practitioners’ preferences for managing insomnia and
opportunities for reducing hypnotic prescribing. J Eval
Clin
Pract
2010;16: 731–737.