Past Issues
Excessive Use of Sedatives/Hypnotics/Anxiolytics in Taiwan
Jen-Pang Wang
“Sedatives, hypnotics, or anxiolytics” as de-fined in DSM-5[1] are roughly denoting to benzo-diazepines (BZDs) and benzodiazepine receptor
agonists. BZDs basically containing distinct
three-ring BZD structure include diazepam, ni-trazepam, triazolam, and midazolam groups,
whereas BZD receptor agonists, also called Z
drugs (zolpidem, zopiclone, and zalopon), do not
have the three-ring BZD structure [2, 3]. Being
functionally similar, all those above-mentioned
drugs can give five (sedative, anxiolytic, anticon-vulsing, muscle-relaxing, and amnestic) pharma-cologic effects [3].
In the context of this editorial, the term “BZDs” is used collectively to include BZDs and BZD receptor agonists. A developed country usu-ally have about 20 BZDs each on the market, but Taiwan has about 60 available BZDs, including those imported from the United States of America, European countries, and Japan.
In the context of this editorial, the term “BZDs” is used collectively to include BZDs and BZD receptor agonists. A developed country usu-ally have about 20 BZDs each on the market, but Taiwan has about 60 available BZDs, including those imported from the United States of America, European countries, and Japan.
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