Changing patterns of psychotropic drug use in the elderly: a five-year update.

Psychotropic drug use was evaluated in 2022 ambulatory elderly subjects in 1978-80 and again in 1984-86. Use of hypnotic drugs declined from 8.5 percent (n = 3234) in 1978-80 to 6.3 percent (n = 2681) in 1984-86 (p less than 0.01). Use of the long-acting hypnotic flurazepam decreased (p less than 0.01) and use of two short-acting drugs, triazolam and temazepam, increased. Prescribing of long half-life benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (p less than 0.01) and chlordiazepoxide, clorazepate, halazepam, and prazepam as a group (p less than 0.01) decreased as well as the use of nearly all products containing barbiturates (p less than 0.01).