Prescription pattern of benzodiazepines for schizophrenia in an outpatient department of a neuropsychiatric hospital

Introduction. Schizophrenia is a severe type of mental disorder compared to other mental disorders. Antipsychotics are the primary drugs for the treatment, but are often combined to calm and sedate agitated patients. Long- term use, high-dose use or use of benzodiazepines in the elderly are associated with risks. Our study aimed to evaluate the prescription pattern of benzodiazepines for the treatment of schizophrenia in an outpatient department of a neuropsychiatric hospital in Nigeria. Methodology. The study employed a retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study of benzodiazepines prescriptions for adult schizophrenia patients who were at least 18 years old. Information was collected from the prescriptions, and the data were analyzed. Results. The assessed prescription papers show that diazepam was the only prescribed parenteral benzodiazepine. The oral prescribed benzodiazepines were: diazepam (37.26%), nitrazepam (12.74%), and clonazepam (43.14%). The median prescribed daily dose/desired daily dose ratios were: injection diazepam – 2, oral diazepam –1, oral nitrazepam – 2, and oral clonazepam – 0.25. Conclusions. Fewer prescriptions of benzodiazepines were made for patients in the age group 56-65 years old. Clonazepam was the most prescribed benzodiazepine, while the parenteral diazepam and oral nitrazepam were prescribed in high doses.