Objective: Aim of this study was to analyse the amount of so-called private prescriptions of zolpidem and zopiclone (Z drugs) over a 15-year period in Germany. Any doctor can prescribe drugs privately. Private prescriptions are fully funded by the patients. At present the total number of doctors' prescriptions in Germany is undocumented because this information is not recorded in insurance claims data. This may be one reason why physicians prescribe drugs that are associated with abuse and dependence (such as Z drugs) more frequently on private prescriptions.
Methods: We compared utilization data from statutory health insurance claims with the purchasing statistics from public pharmacies over the years 1993-2007.
Results: Throughout the study period, purchases of zolpidem and zopiclone increased from 1.4 million to 3.7 million packages and 0.8 million to 3.9 million packages, respectively. A constantly rising proportion of private prescriptions for zolpidem resp. zopiclone were issued between 1993 (+6% resp. +6%), 1999 (+43% resp. +34%), and 2007 (+122% resp. +72%).
Conclusion: Since their approval in Germany, zopiclone and especially zolpidem have frequently been dispensed on private prescriptions.