I am afraid of becoming dependent on this medication.
di-pen-DEN-te — four syllables, stress on third. 'Dipendenza' = dependency/addiction.
Discuss this openly with your doctor or pharmacist — a legitimate and important concern, especially for sleeping pills, anxiolytics, and opioids.
'Dipendenza' = dependency (physical or psychological). 'Assuefazione' = tolerance (needing more for same effect). 'Addiction' in Italian is 'dipendenza' or 'tossicodipendenza'. Medications with dependency potential in Italy: benzodiazepine (tavor, EN, xanax), Z-drugs (zolpidem), opioids, corticosteroids (physiological dependency). These concerns are valid — discuss openly rather than stopping abruptly.
Ho sentito che le benzodiazepine creano dipendenza.
I heard that benzodiazepines cause dependency.
Correct concern — BDZ cause physiological and psychological dependence with regular use
Posso smettere questo farmaco quando voglio?
Can I stop this medication when I want?
Ask before starting — helps you understand the nature of the treatment
Quanti mesi posso prendere le gocce di tavor?
How many months can I take Tavor drops?
Tavor (lorazepam) should generally not be used continuously for more than 4 weeks
Italy has one of the highest rates of benzodiazepine use in Europe — prescribed for insomnia, anxiety, and agitation, often as long-term maintenance rather than short-term crisis treatment. The Italian Institute of Health ('ISS') has issued guidelines recommending maximum 4-week benzodiazepine courses. 'SerD' (addiction services) treat benzodiazepine dependence. Italian psychiatric societies advocate for CBT-I (cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia) as the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia.