The Impact of a Pharmacist Intervention on Post-discharge Hypnotic Drug Discontinuation in Geriatric Inpatients

"* Educational sessions were provided to the physicians and nursing staff.~* Discontinuation regimens were developed. Prescribers were free to choose whether or not to actually use them. The regimens were derived from the regimen used by Petrovic et al. and encouraged a switch from any benzodiazepine to lorazepam 1 mg OD for one week followed by drug stop. Z-drugs were switched to zolpidem 5 mg OD for one week followed by drug stop. If deemed necessary, a pro re nata regimen of lorazepam 1 mg or zolpidem 5 mg for one additional week was prescribed respectively. The discontinuation regimens were incorporated into the hospital's electronic prescribing system. Furthermore, a clinical decision support system provided additional support.~* Patient education sessions were provided upon enrolment and at discharge. Specific patient leaflets were used to facilitate patient education.~* The patient's primary care physician and, if applicable, the nursing home were informed by phone."

all patients received comprehensive geriatric care without any systematic clinical pharmacist involvement regarding deprescribing of hypnotics. Treating physicians were not actively informed on the patient's participation in this particular study.