Table 2.

Deprescribing methods from eligible trials in systematic review

STUDY	TAPERING STRATEGY	NOTES
Baillargeon et al, 2003³⁰	Reduce dose by 25% every 1–2 wk until stopped	Patients followed up weekly; could remain at same dose if they experienced withdrawal symptoms
Belleville et al, 2007³¹	Reduce dose by 25% every 2 wk until lowest available dosage is reached; then introduce drug-free nights progressively	Drug-free nights planned in advance Rate of taper could vary depending on presence of withdrawal symptoms
Curran et al, 2003²⁸	Reduce dose by 25%–50% every 2 wk until stopped	Rate specific to patient’s original dose and BZRA
Garfinkel et al, 1999³²	Reduce dose by 50% for 2 wk; then reduce by 25% for 2 wk, and then discontinue	NA
Habraken et al, 1997³³	Reduce dose by 25% weekly for 3 wk; then reduce by 12.5% for 2 wk	All participants took lorazepam
Morin et al, 2004³⁴	Reduce dose by 25% every 2 wk until lowest available dosage is reached; then introduce drug-free nights	Drug-free nights planned in advance Specific instructions could vary based on withdrawal symptoms
Pat-Horenczyk et al, 1998³⁵	Reduce dose by 50% for 1 wk; then discontinue	All subjects took zopiclone or flurazepam
Shapiro et al, 1995³⁶	Switch to zopiclone for 4 wk and then recommend abrupt cessation of zopiclone	All patients switched from BZDs through 1 of the following methods: stopping BZD for 3 d and then starting zopiclone; directly switching to zopiclone; or overlapping existing BZD with zopiclone for 3-8 d, and then stopping BZD and continuing zopiclone
Vissers et al, 2007³⁷	Reduce dose by 25% every 2 wk for 6 wk; then reduce by 12.5% for 2 wk and then stop	First converted to diazepam and stabilized for 2 wk
Voshaar et al, 2003³⁸	Reduce dose by 25% weekly for 4 wk; participants could choose to split last step into 12.5% reduction for 4 d	First converted to diazepam and stabilized for 2 wk

BZD—benzodiazepine, BZRA—benzodiazepine receptor agonist, NA—not applicable.