A landmark population-based study of nearly 1.8 million Ontario adults has identified a critical insight into benzodiazepine prescribing practices: the duration of the initial prescription may fundamentally shape whether patients develop long-term dependence. Researchers from the University of Toronto found that prescriptions exceeding 30 days reduced the likelihood of discontinuation by 74% compared to prescriptions of 7 days or fewer. Even moderate extensions—prescriptions of 8 to 14 days—lowered discontinuation rates by 46%. The findings, published in PLOS Medicine, underscore how clinical decisions made at the point of prescribing initiation can have profound downstream effects on medication use patterns. Given that lorazepam accounts for nearly 64% of initial prescriptions despite guideline recommendations favoring shorter durations, the study raises important questions about current prescribing practices and their alignment with evidence-based recommendations for reducing benzodiazepine exposure. Read the full article on GMJ Newsroom.
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