Chapter 27 – Lormetazepam Addiction

Lormetazepam is a benzodiazepine (BDZ) mainly used as sedative-hypnotic. It has some specific pharmacological properties that differentiate it from other BDZs. Over the past few years, it has become the most commonly used BDZ in Italy. Abuse, dependence, and addiction may appear after prolonged treatment with lormetazepam. To our knowledge, there is limited evidence of specific addictive properties of lormetazepam in the scientific literature. In the Italian pharmacovigilance database reports of abuse/dependence/addiction caused by lormetazepam account for about 50% of the total BDZ abuse/dependence/addiction reports. In our experience, lormetazepam addiction in Italy was concerned almost exclusively with drop formulation. The lack of data about lormetazepam addiction in the literature is probably because drop solution exists only in Italy and Spain. Research shows that combining medications for addiction treatment (e.g., flumazenil) with behavioral therapy is the best way to ensure success for most patients.