INTRODUCTION: Benzodiazepines are psychotropic drugs whose prescription is indicated for acute crises of anxiety, insomnia and convulsions. Its use is most of the times inadequate. This study aimed at identifying the profile of the female benzodiazepine user at primary care and the characteristics of use. METHODS: All patients over 18 years old were questioned about their benzodiazepine use at a primary care unit from Sorocaba, Brazil, in the year of 2008. RESULTS: Benzodiazepines were used by 13.14%, mainly by older women (50-69 years old), in a stable relationship and illiterate. The use was mainly due to insomnia (48.14%), of longer half-life drugs, chronic (over 6 months, 89.14%), with first prescription by the general practitioner (47.82%) and high rates of interruption (91.3%) failures (69.05%). DISCUSSION: The use is 3.3 times higher than described in the literature for women of similar profiles, with generally inadequate prescriptions, independently of the first prescriber (specialist or not). CONCLUSION: Use is chronic, mainly by older women, with lower educational level and who are in a stable relationship, for correct reasons, but for inadequate time of treatment.
Drugs prescription; benzodiazepines; primary care; women
