Did the New French Regulation of Zolpidem Decrease the Problematic Consumption of Zolpidem? A Field Study among Users

Edouard-Jules Laforgue, Morgane Rousselet, Antoine Claudon, Aurélie Aquizerate, Pascale Jolliet, Marion Istvan and Caroline Victorri-Vigneau
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Edouard-Jules Laforgue: CHU Nantes, Service de Pharmacologie Clinique—Centre d’Evaluation et d’Information sur la Pharmacovigilance-Addictovigilance, Nantes Université, F-44000 Nantes, France
Morgane Rousselet: CHU Nantes, Service de Pharmacologie Clinique—Centre d’Evaluation et d’Information sur la Pharmacovigilance-Addictovigilance, Nantes Université, F-44000 Nantes, France
Antoine Claudon: CHU Nantes, Service de Pharmacologie Clinique—Centre d’Evaluation et d’Information sur la Pharmacovigilance-Addictovigilance, Nantes Université, F-44000 Nantes, France
Aurélie Aquizerate: CHU Nantes, Service de Pharmacologie Clinique—Centre d’Evaluation et d’Information sur la Pharmacovigilance-Addictovigilance, Nantes Université, F-44000 Nantes, France
Pascale Jolliet: CHU Nantes, Service de Pharmacologie Clinique—Centre d’Evaluation et d’Information sur la Pharmacovigilance-Addictovigilance, Nantes Université, F-44000 Nantes, France
Marion Istvan: CHU Nantes, Service de Pharmacologie Clinique—Centre d’Evaluation et d’Information sur la Pharmacovigilance-Addictovigilance, Nantes Université, F-44000 Nantes, France
Caroline Victorri-Vigneau: CHU Nantes, Service de Pharmacologie Clinique—Centre d’Evaluation et d’Information sur la Pharmacovigilance-Addictovigilance, Nantes Université, F-44000 Nantes, France

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-12

Abstract: Background: The French national drug regulatory authority stated, in 2017, that a secured prescription pad must be used for zolpidem prescriptions. This study aimed to evaluate the evolution of the problematic consumption of zolpidem at the individual level since the new regulation. Methods: Two nationwide populations of at-risk users of zolpidem were recruited: one in general practitioner (GP) offices and one in specialized care centers dedicated to drug dependence (SCDDs). Participants were asked about their zolpidem consumption before and after the regulation change. The primary outcome was the evolution of problematic zolpidem consumption, as defined by at least one of the following criteria: overconsumption, fraudulent ways of obtaining, effects sought other than hypnotic, and modes of administration other than oral. Results: A total of 243 participants were included: 125 from GP offices and 118 from SCDDs. In the GP population, the prevalence of patients who were identified as problematic consumers decreased from 24.8% to 20.8% ( p = 0.593), whereas the prevalence decreased from 73.7% to 51.7% in the SCDD population ( p < 0.001). The most prevalent criteria for problematic status were overconsumption and fraudulent ways. Conclusions: The new French regulation of zolpidem had different impacts among two different populations of at-risk zolpidem consumers.

Keywords: zolpidem; drug regulation; patient-related outcome; substance use disorder; problematic consumption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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