patientpmetice Hypnotics may pose a risk for the patient, námely when they are not preseribed rationally. Prcscriptions of hypnotics háve been followed up at five pharmacies over a period of 12 months. In the course of ten months before the amendment of ActNo. 167/1998 Dig., theratio of preseriptions of benzodiazepine and non-ben-zodiazepine hypnotics was 57:43 expressed in RDD; the most frequently preseribed drug was Rohypnol tbl (1 mg of active substance, flunitrazepam), the most frequently preseribed active substance was flunitrazepam (in a single product). In the course of the fírst two months following the Amendment, the ratio of preseribed benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics changed to 45:55, expressed in RDD. In first pláce was then the preseription drug Hypnogen tbl 15, the mostfrequently preseribed active substance being zolpidem (in 7 different products). Hypnotics were preseribed overwhelmingly to patients of the 61-80 year age group, more to females than to males, more frequently in the autumn and winter months. In a continu-ed follow-up at one of the former pharmacies over anolher seven months there has been found a shifl in the ratio of preseribed benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepinc hypnotics down to 24:76. The prescribing of the product Rohypnol tbl has a declining trend.

        Key words: hypnotics - benzodiazepines - non-benzodiazepines - prcscriptions.