We investigated the use of hypnotics in nursing homes and old age homes in
the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. Data on administration of hypnotics
on 3 separate days within a week in August 1995 was obtained from the drug
administration records in 31 institutions. Twenty-five percent of the 1062
patients in the institutions used hypnotics, with no difference between pa
tients from nursing homes and old age homes. The number of patients treated
with hypnotics. the doses administered, and the time of administration wer
e similar for weekends and workdays. About 100% of the hypnotics were used
as scheduled, and 29% of the doses administered were higher than the recomm
ended lowest dose for elderly patients. Furthermore, about 50% of the hypno
tics administered were long-acting benzodiazepines. The results indicate a
need for a review of the prescribing of hypnotics in geriatric institutions
.