Table 5 Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios for the association between the number of prescriptions of benzodiazepines and narcotic pain killers and suicide in seniors
All suicides (n  =  602)Non-poisoning suicides (n  =  474)
Adjusted odds ratios* (95% CI)Adjusted odds ratios* (96% CI)
Benzodiazepines
    None1.01.0
    1 prescription3.30 (2.24 to 4.86)2.82 (1.82 to 4.35)
    2 or more prescriptions3.44 (1.50 to 7.92)4.47 (1.55 to 12.92)
Narcotic pain killers
    None1.01.0
    1 prescription1.87 (1.12 to 3.11)1.49 (0.82 to 2.74)
    2 prescriptions4.04 (1.60 to 10.22)3.70 (1.33 to 10.24)
    3 or more prescriptions15.53 (4.01 to 60.07)13.16 (3.30 to 52.49)

  • *Adjusted for demographics, co-morbidity and other medication use.