Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current issue
    • Past issues
    • Early releases
    • Collections
    • Sections
    • Blog
    • Infographics & illustrations
    • Podcasts
    • COVID-19 articles
    • Obituary notices
  • Authors & Reviewers
    • Overview for authors
    • Submission guidelines
    • Submit a manuscript
    • Forms
    • Editorial process
    • Editorial policies
    • Peer review process
    • Publication fees
    • Reprint requests
    • Open access
    • Patient engagement
  • Physicians & Subscribers
    • Benefits for Canadian physicians
    • CPD Credits for CMA Members
    • Subscribe to CMAJ Print
    • Subscription prices
    • Obituary notices
  • Alerts
    • Email alerts
    • RSS
  • JAMC
    • À propos
    • Numéro en cours
    • Archives
    • Sections
    • Abonnement
    • Alertes
    • Trousse média 2023
    • Avis de décès
  • CMAJ JOURNALS
    • CMAJ Open
    • CJS
    • JAMC
    • JPN

User menu

Search

  • Advanced search
CMAJ
  • CMAJ JOURNALS
    • CMAJ Open
    • CJS
    • JAMC
    • JPN
CMAJ

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current issue
    • Past issues
    • Early releases
    • Collections
    • Sections
    • Blog
    • Infographics & illustrations
    • Podcasts
    • COVID-19 articles
    • Obituary notices
  • Authors & Reviewers
    • Overview for authors
    • Submission guidelines
    • Submit a manuscript
    • Forms
    • Editorial process
    • Editorial policies
    • Peer review process
    • Publication fees
    • Reprint requests
    • Open access
    • Patient engagement
  • Physicians & Subscribers
    • Benefits for Canadian physicians
    • CPD Credits for CMA Members
    • Subscribe to CMAJ Print
    • Subscription prices
    • Obituary notices
  • Alerts
    • Email alerts
    • RSS
  • JAMC
    • À propos
    • Numéro en cours
    • Archives
    • Sections
    • Abonnement
    • Alertes
    • Trousse média 2023
    • Avis de décès
  • Visit CMAJ on Facebook
  • Follow CMAJ on Twitter
  • Follow CMAJ on Pinterest
  • Follow CMAJ on Youtube
  • Follow CMAJ on Instagram
Research in CMAJ Open

Highlights

CMAJ November 04, 2014 186 (16) 1221; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.141296
  • Article
  • Figures & Tables
  • Responses
  • Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Use of Z-drugs rising in Manitoba

Concerns have been raised about the long-term use of benzodiazepines, especially in older people. Although it has been suggested that Z-drugs, a newer class of hypnotic medication, have lower potential for abuse and dependence, concerns remain about their effects on human performance and driving.

In this population-based study, researchers looked at the incidence and prevalence of benzodiazepine and Z-drug (zoplicone and zaleplone) use in Manitoba over a 16-year period, 1996–2012. (Zolpidem was not available on the Canadian market until end of 2011.) Over the study period, the authors found that benzodiazepines were prescribed less frequently to patients ≥ 65 yr (55.5 to 30.3 users per 1000). Use remained stable among the rest of the adult population (18–64 yr). Zopiclone prescribing, however, continued to rise in all age groups studied (7.3 to 20.3 users per 1000) (Figure). Highest rates of use were seen among older women and the low-income population.

Figure:
  • Download figure
  • Open in new tab
  • Download powerpoint
Figure:

Incidence of benzodiazepine and Z-drug (zopiclone and zaleplon) use in Manitoba, 1996–2012.

It is unclear whether the observed drop in benzodiazepine use in older people is limited to the diagnosis of insomnia or whether other medications have replaced benzodiazepines for conditions such as anxiety. Despite recommendations to restrict the use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs for insomnia to a maximum of four weeks, patients of all ages seem to stay on these drugs for extended periods, say the authors. CMAJ Open 2014;2:E208–E216

Use of alternative medicine by children with cardiac conditions is common

Use of complementary and alternative medicine is increasing among children, especially among those with chronic illnesses. This survey looked at the use of these products and practices in patients attending pediatric cardiology clinics in two Canadian children’s hospitals.

Of the 176 respondents, almost 60% reported use of complementary and alternative medicine at any time in the child’s life. The most common products in use were multi-vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, unspecified cold remedies and fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids. Use of alternative practices was also common (Table). Although almost 45% used these products and practices concurrently with conventional medicine, about one-third of these respondents did not disclose this concurrent use to their physician; two-thirds did not inform their pharmacist. CMAJ Open 2014; 2:E217–E224

View this table:
  • View inline
  • View popup
Table:

Complementary and alternative medicine products and practices commonly used by patients seen in pediatric cardiology clinics at Stollery Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and their perceived helpfulness

PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

Canadian Medical Association Journal: 186 (16)
CMAJ
Vol. 186, Issue 16
4 Nov 2014
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author

Article tools

Respond to this article
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
To sign up for email alerts or to access your current email alerts, enter your email address below:
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on CMAJ.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Highlights
(Your Name) has sent you a message from CMAJ
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the CMAJ web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Highlights
CMAJ Nov 2014, 186 (16) 1221; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.141296

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
‍ Request Permissions
Share
Highlights
CMAJ Nov 2014, 186 (16) 1221; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.141296
Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Use of Z-drugs rising in Manitoba
    • Use of alternative medicine by children with cardiac conditions is common
  • Figures & Tables
  • Responses
  • Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • No citing articles found.
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Highlights
  • Highlights
  • Highlights
Show more Research in CMAJ Open

Similar Articles

 

View Latest Classified Ads

Content

  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • Collections
  • Sections
  • Blog
  • Podcasts
  • Alerts
  • RSS
  • Early releases

Information for

  • Advertisers
  • Authors
  • Reviewers
  • CMA Members
  • CPD credits
  • Media
  • Reprint requests
  • Subscribers

About

  • General Information
  • Journal staff
  • Editorial Board
  • Advisory Panels
  • Governance Council
  • Journal Oversight
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Copyright and Permissions
CMAJ Group

Copyright 2023, CMA Impact Inc. or its licensors. All rights reserved. ISSN 1488-2329 (e) 0820-3946 (p)

All editorial matter in CMAJ represents the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Canadian Medical Association or its subsidiaries.

To receive any of these resources in an accessible format, please contact us at CMAJ Group, 500-1410 Blair Towers Place, Ottawa ON, K1J 9B9; p: 1-888-855-2555; e: cmajgroup@cmaj.ca

CMA Civility, Accessibility, Privacy

 

Powered by HighWire