Adverse outcomes following new benzodiazepine and Z-drug prescriptions among adult Oregon Medicaid beneficiaries: 2016 - 2019

Benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRA), which include brand names such as Valium, Xanax and Ambien, have been prescribed in clinical practice for decades. Despite their widespread use, these medications carry FDA black box warnings. Risks from long-term use of BZRA have been extensively studied. However, little is known about the adverse outcomes following new BZRA use. This dissertation used claims from adult Medicaid beneficiaries with new BZRA use to investigate 1) factors associated with first long-term BZRA prescription, 2) factors associated with 90-day discontinuation, and 3) rates of first ED visits.