OBJECTIVES: Deprescribing is a planned and supervised process of tapering, stopping, discontinuing or withdrawing of potentially inappropriate medications that might be causing harm or that might no longer be beneficial. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of benzodiazepine deprescribing in patients of department of psychiatry.

METHODS: A prospective interventional study was conducted in psychiatry department of a tertiary care hospital, Bengaluru. Subjects who were prescribed with BZD were included for the study. A total of 77 patients were recruited based on the inclusion criteria.The data was collected by employing well-designed patient data collection form.

RESULTS: Out of 77 patients, 5 (6.5%) were using BZD appropriately (<4 week duration), remaining 72 (93.5%) were chronic users of BZD. A total of 58 (78.4%) patients were deprescribed of which 23 (31.1%) were dose tapered, 35 (47.3%) were ceased with the medication. The remaining 16 (21.6%) patients continued to use BZDs, of which 10 (12.9%) were on SOS prescription, 2 (2.6%) subjects self-discontinued BZDs due to fear of dependence. 3 (3.9%) patients were lost during follow up.

CONCLUSIONS: Evidences recommend BZD to be constrained to transient use (2-4 weeks). Chronic use of BZDs can lead to development of tolerance to the therapeutic effects, adverse effects and withdrawal symptoms. Emergence of such unwanted effects amongst patients can be averted by employing the deprescribing process to taper, stop, or discontinue the use of benzodiazepines.

KEYWORDS: Deprescribing, BZD.