Motivational intervention to reduce benzodiazepine use in chronic drug users

Impact of Identification and Brief Motivational Intervention in Dispensing Pharmacies (BMI) on the Deprescription of Benzodiazepines and Related Substances in Adult Chronic Drug Users

Not applicable Interventional University Hospital, Grenoble · NCT06446349

This study is testing whether a short motivational talk from pharmacists can help adults who have been using benzodiazepines for a long time reduce their medication dosage and improve their health.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment300 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity Hospital, Grenoble Academic / other
Locations20 sites (Annonay and 19 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06446349 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This intervention aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief motivational intervention (BMI) conducted by pharmacists to reduce the daily dosage of benzodiazepines and related substances (BZD/Z) in adult patients who have been using these medications for at least six months. The study will assess the impact of BMI on both the reduction of prescribed doses and the clinical outcomes of patients over a six-month period. The approach involves comparing the outcomes of patients receiving the BMI against those receiving standard dispensing practices in pharmacies. The study is set in France, where the prevalence of long-term BZD/Z prescriptions is a growing concern.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who have been on continuous treatment with benzodiazepines or related substances for at least six months.

Not a fit: Patients currently undergoing treatment with certain antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, or those with a history of severe withdrawal symptoms may not benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could lead to safer prescribing practices and improved health outcomes for patients dependent on benzodiazepines.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using motivational interventions in pharmacy settings is promising, this specific application to benzodiazepine deprescribing is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Continuous treatment (at least once daily) with BZD/Z for at least 6 months, after verification of 6 months' supply.
* Signed informed consent
* Patient able to understand the survey and complete a questionnaire in French.
* Affiliation with the French social security system

Exclusion Criteria:

* Concomitant treatment with:

  * The following oral antipsychotics: risperidone, olanzapine, aripiprazole, quetiapine, clozapine, haloperidol, flupentixol, pimozide, chlorpromazine, sulpiride, zuclopenthixol, loxapine, cyamemazine (\>100mg/D), sulpiride (\>150mg/D),
  * Injectable medium- and long-acting antipsychotics
  * Thymoregulatory treatment with lithium
  * Treatments for alcohol use disorders: baclofen, nalmefene, naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram
  * Opiate substitution treatments: buprenorphine, methadone
  * Anti-epileptic drugs
* History of convulsions or epilepsy
* History of gabaergic withdrawal accidents: delirium tremens, confusional syndrome requiring specialist treatment (hospitalisation, specialist consultation), epileptic seizures, etc.
* Patients suffering from cancer
* Persons referred to in articles L1121-5 to L1121-8 of the French Public Health Code (corresponding to all protected persons: pregnant women, women in childbirth, nursing mothers, persons deprived of their liberty by judicial or administrative decision, persons subject to a legal protection measure).

Where this trial is running

Annonay and 19 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Benzodiazepine Withdrawalsubstance use disordercommunity pharmacy
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.