Collaborative GP-Pharmacist Approach to Tapering Benzodiazepines in Older Adults
Official title: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Joint General Practitioner-Pharmacist Intervention on the Implementation of Benzodiazepine Deprescribing in the Elderly (BESTOPH-MG Trial): Protocol for a Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial
Run by Nantes University Hospital · NCT05765656 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether a GP-pharmacist collaboration and pharmacist-led motivational interviewing can help people aged 65 and older reduce or stop benzodiazepines prescribed for anxiety or sleep.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 400 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Nantes University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Nantes) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 16, 2023 |
| Main results expected | February 16, 2027 |
| Study ends | February 16, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | June 24, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05765656 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults 65+ who regularly use anxiolytic or hypnotic benzodiazepines and are under a GP-pharmacist pair with the ability to participate in interviews or questionnaires.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients not expected to benefit include those unable to participate in interviews or with conditions that preclude deprescribing or follow-up.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study evaluates a GP-pharmacist collaborative intervention aimed at deprescribing benzodiazepines in elderly patients. The approach combines collaborative prescribing support with motivational interviewing delivered by the pharmacist. Eligible participants are outpatients 65 and older who have recent, regular benzodiazepine prescriptions and are followed by a GP-pharmacist pair. The trial will measure changes in deprescribing success and related patient outcomes in a real-world primary care setting. Lead institutions are Nantes University Hospital and Université de Nantes, with sites at CHU de Nantes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could reduce long-term benzodiazepine use and associated risks such as falls, cognitive impairment, and dependence among older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Interprofessional collaboration and motivational interviewing have shown promise in improving prescribing appropriateness in similar settings, though results vary by context.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * outpatients aged 65 and over * followed by the general practitioner and the pharmacist of the GP-PO pair * having a prescription for an anxiolytic or hypnotic BZDR prescribed at least 4 times in the past year * the last prescription being less than 3 months old * having been dispensed monthly during the last 3 months * affiliated to a social security scheme * and having given consent to participate in the research. Exclusion Criteria: * patients living in an institution * participating in a clinical trial * with epilepsy * active depression * uncontrolled mental disorders * unable to participate in an interview or answer a questionnaire (demented, non-French speaking, illiterate, deaf, ...) * under guardianship * with a dystonic syndrome * and patients who are not sufficiently autonomous to carry out the steps inherent in the study
Where it's running
-
CHU de Nantes
Nantes, France Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jean-François HUON, Pharm.D PhD — Nantes University Hospital
- Study coordinator: Jean-François HUON, Pharm.D PhD
- Email: jeanfrancois.huon@chu-nantes.fr
- Phone: 0244768074
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.