Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of Australians dispensed psychotropic medications between 2013 and 2022 according to their age.
Methods: Services Australia provided a de-identified 10% random Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme sample that allowed us to determine, for each year, the proportion of Australians dispensed at least one script for antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics, or hypnotics. The classification of medications followed Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical coding. Participants were stratified into 10-year age groups from 0-9 to ⩾90 years, and sex was coded as male/female. We retrieved population numbers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Results: The number of records per year ranged from 1,540,520 to 1,746,402, and 54.10% were for females. A greater proportion of older adults, particularly those aged ⩾70 years, were dispensed antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics and hypnotics than any other age group. The proportion of people who dispensed antipsychotics, anxiolytics and hypnotics declined between 2013 and 2022 but increased for antidepressants, most markedly for adolescents and young adults. Females were more frequently dispensed antidepressants, anxiolytics and hypnotics than males, but males were more frequently dispensed antipsychotics than females, albeit not in later life.
Conclusion: Older age groups and females are the most frequent recipients of psychotropic medications dispensed in Australia.
Background: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening adverse drug reaction. This study aims to identify the most prevalent drugs associated with the risk of NMS according to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.
Methods: Analyses were performed using data from the FAERS database from January 2004 to June 2024.
Introduction: Hypnotic polypharmacy and its long-term prescriptions constitute the inappropriate use of hypnotics. However, the relationship between hypnotic polypharmacy and prolonged prescriptions remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the association between hypnotic polypharmacy and the duration of hypnotic prescriptions.
Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intranasal dexmedetomidine (Dex), oral lorazepam, and a placebo in managing preoperative anxiety-related insomnia.
Patients And Methods: A total of 90 patients exhibiting symptoms of preoperative anxiety and insomnia were randomly assigned to three groups: Dex (receiving 2.5 µg/kg Dex intranasally and starch tablets orally), lorazepam (receiving saline intranasally and 2 mg lorazepam orally), and placebo (receiving saline intranasally and starch tablets orally).
Background: Effective analgesia and sedation management play a crucial role in reducing the intensity of coughing in patients with endotracheal intubation and improving clinical outcomes. However, current approaches are predominantly singular and lack comprehensive management strategies based on multidisciplinary collaboration. This study aims to evaluate the impact of multidisciplinary collaborative bundled care on analgesia and sedation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with endotracheal intubation, providing evidence to inform clinical practice.
