The continuous use of benzodiazepines over periods of months and years is a frequently
observed phenomenon, even if this pattern of use is against all common recommandations
for the prescription of benzodiazepines. Characteristics of benzodiazepine long-term
users are female gender, older age, and the lack of a partner or significant others.
Frequently, an increased level of anxiety and a tendency towards depressive states
can be found. Benzodiazepine long-term user rarely try to terminate drug intake. If
they do so, they hardly succed, even though the daily dose is usually low.
Somatic conditions are rarely investigated in epidemiologic studies on benzodiazepin
use. Only a few investigations describe a possible influence of somatic deseases on
benzodiazepin long-term use. If somatic conditions are observed, a clear connection
can be demonstrated: patients with benzodiazepine long-term use complain significantly
more health problems than persons without tranquilizer intake. Even though this self-
assessment does not correspond to the assessment of their treating physicians, patients
with benzodiazepine long-term use have a higher mortality rate than age matched individuals
without tranquilizer use.
