Shorter Initial Benzo Courses Linked to Discontinuation

Longer initial prescriptions, use of multiple benzodiazepines, and long-acting agents were associated with delayed discontinuation in a retrospective population-based cohort study.

By
Andrea Surnit
June 23, 2026
3 min

Conexiant

Overview

A study published in PLOS Medicine analyzed linked administrative health care data from 1.8 million adults in Ontario, Canada, who received a new oral benzodiazepine prescription from 2013 to 2020, with follow-up through 2021. The study found that patients prescribed longer initial benzodiazepine courses were less likely to discontinue treatment.

Background

Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for various mental health conditions, yet their prolonged use raises concerns regarding safety and dependency.

Data Highlights

Prescription Duration	Likelihood of Discontinuation
7 days or fewer	Reference
8 to 14 days	50% lower likelihood
15 to 30 days	75% lower likelihood
More than 30 days	86% lower likelihood

Key Findings

Longer initial benzodiazepine prescriptions were associated with lower discontinuation rates.
Patients prescribed 8 to 14 days had about half the likelihood of discontinuation compared to those prescribed 7 days or fewer.
Prescriptions of 15 to 30 days were associated with about one-quarter the likelihood of discontinuation.
Patients initially dispensed 2 or more benzodiazepines were less likely to discontinue treatment.
The median time to discontinuation was 19 days overall, with variations by sex.

Clinical Implications

The findings indicate that initial prescription duration may influence patient adherence to benzodiazepine treatment.

Conclusion

This study reports a relationship between initial benzodiazepine prescription duration and treatment discontinuation.

Shorter Initial Benzo Courses Linked to Discontinuation