ASO Author Reflections: New Persistent Benzodiazepine Use following Cancer Surgery

PASTBenzodiazepines rank among the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medications in high income countries and are known for their sedative, hypnotic, and anxiolytic properties. 1 These characteristics make benzodiazepine useful among patients undergoing surgery, particularly individuals with cancer. 2 However, the stressor characteristics of a cancer diagnosis and treatment can place patients at risk of aversive coping mechanisms. 3Of note, patients with newly prescribed perioperative benzodiazepines can continue to use these drugs for durations longer than initially intended. 4his condition is often referred to as new persistent benzodiazepine use (NPBU). 4Patients with cancer may be at particular risk of NPBU as they often require higher doses to manage conditions such as therapy related nausea or vomiting. 2As such, the current study sought to assess NPBU among patients undergoing a surgical procedure for cancer, and to identify risk factors associated with NPBU.