Benzodiazepine-like hypnotics and the associated risk of road traffic accidents
Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2011-03-02; 89(4): 595-601
DOI: 10.1038/clpt.2011.3
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1. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2011 Apr;89(4):595-601. doi: 10.1038/clpt.2011.3. Epub 2011
Mar 2.
Benzodiazepine-like hypnotics and the associated risk of road traffic accidents.
Orriols L(1), Philip P, Moore N, Castot A, Gadegbeku B, Delorme B, Mallaret M,
Lagarde E; CESIR Research Group.
Collaborators: Avalos M, Bazin F, Blazejewski S, Contrand B, Durrieu G, Girodet
PO, Goldberg M, Laumon B, Lauque D, Lecoules N, Memes L, Merle L, Merlière Y,
Montastruc JL, Noize P, Orsoni N, Pariente A, Ribéreau-Gayon R, Salmi LR,
Thiessard F, Tricotel A.
Author information:
(1)Equipe Prévention et Prise en Charge des Traumatismes, Centre de Recherche
INSERM U897 Epidémiologie et Biostatistiques, Institut de Santé Publique
d’Epidémiologie et de Développement, Université Victor Segalen, Bordeaux, France.
The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the use of
benzodiazepine or benzodiazepine-like hypnotics and the risk of road traffic
accidents. Data from three French national databases were matched: the
health-care insurance database, police reports, and the police database of
injury-related traffic accidents. A total of 72,685 drivers involved in
injury-related road traffic accidents in France, from 2005 to 2008, were included
in the study. The risk of being responsible for a traffic accident was higher in
users of benzodiazepine hypnotics (odds ratio (OR) = 1.39 (1.08-1.79)) and in the
155 drivers to whom a dosage of more than one pill of zolpidem a day had been
dispensed during the 5 months before the collision (OR = 2.46 (1.70-3.56)). No
association was found between the use of zopiclone and risk of traffic accidents.
Although this study did not find any association between the use of zolpidem as
recommended and causation of traffic accidents, the potential risk related to
possible abuse of the drug and risky driving behaviors should be further
investigated. The results related to benzodiazepine hypnotics are consistent with
those of previous studies.
DOI: 10.1038/clpt.2011.3
PMID: 21368756 [Indexed for MEDLINE]