The French addictovigilance network clinical assessment: Z-drugs, true false twins

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In France, an addictovigilance network is responsible for evaluating drug dependence, by drawing on pharmacoepidemiological studies, clinical studies and by assessing healthcare professionals’ reports on problematic consumption.

Methods: The aim of this study was to determine whether zolpidem and zopiclone have different dependence profiles, based on healthcare professionals’ reports, and to identify various consumer dependence profiles among zolpidem users and among zopiclone users. Dependence in reports was assessed using the EGAP scale; a scale developed using the DSM diagnostic dependence criteria.

Results: The comparison of dependence profiles for zolpidem and zopiclone showed differences both in total EGAP score and EGAP item positivity. The descriptive analysis showed that EGAP scores were higher for zolpidem than for zopiclone, suggesting more severe problematic consumption with zolpidem. For zolpidem 2 subpopulations of consumers were identified, with one subpopulation’s consumption being more severe than the other, with a significantly higher total EGAP score and more harmful consequences. No subpopulation was highlighted for zopiclone.

Conclusion: These results were in favour of a higher prevalence of physical and compulsive signs of dependence and of harmful consequences of dependence, with zolpidem than with zopiclone.

KEYWORDS:

• Dependence profile
• epidemiology
• safety
• zolpidem
• zopiclone
• Z-drugs

Article highlights

• Zopiclone and zolpidem are two benzodiazepines-like agents with different dependence potential

• Zolpidem seems to lead to greater dependence than zopiclone

• Physicians should always keep zolpidem dependence effect in mind

• Increased of the initial doses and transgressive behavior with respect to the manner in which the drug is obtained or used should alert the practitioner.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to extend our thanks the French Health Products Safety Agency (Agence Nationale de Sécurité du medicament et des produits de santé – ANSM) for providing financing. The funding sources had no influence over the study design, or collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, writing of the manuscript or the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The French Health Products Safety Agency (Agence Nationale de Sécurité du medicament et des produits de santé – ANSM) under Grant 20125057.