Table 3.

Use of medications, especially those with CNS effects, at baseline (before withdrawal) and at 3-year follow-up. Participants are grouped by BZDA withdrawal status at 3 years (non-users, irregular users, regular users). P is for baseline vs. 3-year follow-up

	Non-users (N = 26)		Irregular users (N = 27)		Regular users (N = 30)		P (between groups)
	Median	[LQ,UQ]	Median	[LQ,UQ]	Median	[LQ,UQ]
Number of all medications
Baseline	4	[3, 5]	4	[4, 5]	4	[3, 6]	0.767
3-year follow-up	4	[2, 6]	5	[3, 7]	5	[3, 7]	0.222
P	0.432		0.011		0.026
Number of concomitant CNS medicationsa
Baseline	0	[0, 1]	0	[0, 1]	0	[0, 1]	0.744
3-year follow-up	1	[0, 1]	0	[0, 1]	0	[0, 1]	0.286
P	0.268		0.307		0.827
Users of medications groups	N	(%)	N	(%)	N	(%)
Antipsychotics
Baseline	0	(0)	0	(0)	0	(0)	1.000
3-year follow-up	0	(0)	1	(4)	1	(3)	1.000
P	0.157
Antidepressants
Baseline	4	(15)	7	(26)	6	(20)	0.634
3-year follow-up	9	(34)	11	(41)	9	(30)	0.677
P	0.006
Antiepileptics, gabapentinoids
Baseline	1	(4)	1	(4)	1	(3)	1.000
3-year follow-up	0	(0)	1	(4)	0	(0)	0.639
P	0.337
Dopamine agonists
Baseline	0	(0)	0	(0)	0	(0)	1.000
3-year follow-up	2	(8)	2	(7)	0	(0)	0.382
P	0.046
Melatonin
Baseline	0	(0)	0	(0)	0	(0)	1.000
3-year follow-up	7	(27)	3	(11)	4	(13)	0.290
P	0.001
Opioids
Baseline	2	(8)	3	(11)	1	(3)	0.507
3-year follow-up	1	(4)	0	(0)	2	(7)	0.643
P	0.190
NSAIDS, paracetamolb
Baseline	8	(31)	4	(15)	7	(23)	0.384
3-year follow-up	16	(62)	12	(44)	15	(50)	0.447
P	< 0.001
Antihistamines
Baseline	4	(15)	1	(4)	2	(7)	0.330
3-year follow-up	4	(15)	1	(4)	2	(7)	0.330
P	1.000
Anticholinergics
Baseline	5	(19)	4	(15)	4	(13)	0.867
3-year follow-up	8	(31)	6	(22)	4	(13)	0.287
P	0.252

^anumber of CNS medications per participant (excl. BZDA and melatonin): antipsychotics, antidepressants, antiepileptics, dopamine agonists, antihistamines, anticholinergics

^bonly aspirin at analgesic doses (500 mg/d or higher) included; aspirin at antithrombotic doses (499 mg/d or lower) excluded