Clinics and practice
Primary Care Prescribing Patterns for Benzodiazepines and Z-Drugs, and Evidence Gaps Concerning Hydroxyzine and Seasonality: A Systematic Review
By Romaszko M, Nowacka A and Majewski M.
Abstract
Introduction
Medications with sedative and hypnotic properties, such as benzodiazepines, the so-called 'Z-drugs', and hydroxyzine, are used in primary care. However, data regarding their prescribing patterns, particularly in the context of seasonality, remain limited.
Aim
This review aims to assess the current knowledge regarding primary care prescribing patterns for medications with potential sedative and hypnotic effects, with particular emphasis on benzodiazepines, 'Z-drugs', and hydroxyzine. Material and Methods: The systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases were searched. Fourteen original English-language publications from 2015 to 2026, which focused on the primary care prescription of selected groups of medications with hypnotic properties, were included.