Benzodiazepine Prescribing in North Carolina
Medicare Part D, 2013–2024.
Benzodiazepine prescribing in North Carolina fell 18.4% between 2013 and 2024 — a steeper fall than the country as a whole. In 2024 the state recorded 1,354,252 Medicare Part D benzodiazepine claims across 275,705 patients, an average of 4.91 fills per patient per year, which ranks 18 of 51 states. Alprazolam accounts for 35% of it.
1,354,252
Claims, 2024
275,705
Patients, 2024
4.91
Fills per patient
-18.4%
Since 2013
North Carolina over twelve years
Which benzodiazepines North Carolina prescribes
| Drug | Claims 2024 | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Alprazolam | 474,608 | 35% |
| Clonazepam | 348,602 | 25.7% |
| Lorazepam | 323,189 | 23.9% |
| Diazepam | 133,362 | 9.8% |
| Temazepam | 61,966 | 4.6% |
Psychiatric prescribers in North Carolina
622 psychiatric prescribers in North Carolina appear in the 2024 Medicare Part D data with benzodiazepine claims. 80 of them recorded at least a 50% fall in benzodiazepine claims since 2019. Sorted by change, largest reduction first.
This is a record, not a recommendation. A fall in Medicare benzodiazepine claims has many possible explanations — a changing patient panel, retirement, a shift to another payer, or simply dropping below the threshold CMS publishes. It does not establish that a prescriber supports tapering, and a low number does not mean they will take you as a patient. Use it as one input, then ask the five vetting questions.
| Prescriber | City | 2019 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michele SchaeferPsychiatry | Concord | 689 | 14 | -98% |
| Mary FroelichPsychiatry | Reidsville | 396 | 12 | -97% |
| Siera KirklandPsychiatry | Matthews | 263 | 12 | -95.4% |
| Kevin LammPsychiatry | Fayetteville | 605 | 35 | -94.2% |
| Iverson CarterPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 543 | 40 | -92.6% |
| Crystal HagoodPsychiatry | Concord | 906 | 78 | -91.4% |
| Philip LarteyPsychiatry | Hendersonville | 295 | 28 | -90.5% |
| Sophia YuanPsychiatry | Clemmons | 627 | 68 | -89.2% |
| Lunsford KingPsychiatry | Wilmington | 344 | 39 | -88.7% |
| Lawrence GreenbergPsychiatry | Cary | 219 | 25 | -88.6% |
| Mona GuptaPsychiatry | Raleigh | 137 | 16 | -88.3% |
| Sayanti BhattacharyaPsychiatry | Raleigh | 132 | 17 | -87.1% |
| James WainerPsychiatry | Raleigh | 92 | 12 | -87% |
| Dwight LysnePsychiatry | Wilmington | 333 | 47 | -85.9% |
| Saman HasanPsychiatry | Apex | 401 | 57 | -85.8% |
| Linda NorthamPsychiatry & Neurology | Morganton | 72 | 11 | -84.7% |
| John McewenPsychiatry | Raleigh | 525 | 81 | -84.6% |
| Steven BakerPsychiatry | Asheville | 324 | 53 | -83.6% |
| Patricia HillPsychiatry | Statesville | 288 | 48 | -83.3% |
| Xiaohua LiPsychiatry | Charlotte | 1,583 | 266 | -83.2% |
| Stephen BuiePsychiatry | Asheville | 412 | 70 | -83% |
| An'Drea TaylorPsychiatry | Durham | 152 | 28 | -81.6% |
| Amy SingletonPsychiatry | Charlotte | 136 | 27 | -80.1% |
| Herman NaftelPsychiatry | Raleigh | 130 | 26 | -80% |
| Ramaswamy SriramanPsychiatry | Goldsboro | 588 | 118 | -79.9% |
| Barton LewisPsychiatry | Morehead City | 434 | 92 | -78.8% |
| Allan MaltbiePsychiatry | Chapel Hill | 208 | 44 | -78.8% |
| Phillip FullwoodPsychiatry & Neurology | Chapel Hill | 66 | 14 | -78.8% |
| Jacquetta FousheePsychiatry | Winston Salem | 302 | 74 | -75.5% |
| Dan CotomanPsychiatry | Salisbury | 49 | 12 | -75.5% |
| Melinda AsburyPsychiatry | Durham | 60 | 15 | -75% |
| Angela LouiePsychiatry & Neurology | Albemarle | 47 | 12 | -74.5% |
| Margery SvedPsychiatry | Raleigh | 48 | 13 | -72.9% |
| Jill HeathNeuropsychiatry | Asheville | 80 | 22 | -72.5% |
| Scott KlenzakPsychiatry | Southern Pines | 40 | 11 | -72.5% |
| Marcelo Lopez-ClarosPsychiatry | Raleigh | 40 | 11 | -72.5% |
| Kim DansiePsychiatry & Neurology | Sanford | 59 | 17 | -71.2% |
| Thomas GiduzPsychiatry & Neurology | Chapel Hill | 83 | 24 | -71.1% |
| Rudy SantosoPsychiatry | Hickory | 1,397 | 416 | -70.2% |
| James JensonPsychiatry & Neurology | Goldsboro | 47 | 14 | -70.2% |
| Aarti KapurPsychiatry | Burlington | 112 | 36 | -67.9% |
| Brian FarahPsychiatry | High Point | 398 | 129 | -67.6% |
| Masood MohiuddinPsychiatry | Morganton | 204 | 66 | -67.6% |
| Michael ZarzarPsychiatry | Raleigh | 104 | 34 | -67.3% |
| Adam McdonoughPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 344 | 113 | -67.2% |
| William LayPsychiatry | Reidsville | 91 | 31 | -65.9% |
| William FoxPsychiatry | King | 81 | 28 | -65.4% |
| Gregory ArthmannPsychiatry | Greenville | 30 | 11 | -63.3% |
| Matthew HoughPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 30 | 11 | -63.3% |
| Shari SenguptaPsychiatry | Jamestown | 130 | 48 | -63.1% |
| Anne RichardsonPsychiatry | Charlotte | 333 | 124 | -62.8% |
| Robert BauerPsychiatry | Davidson | 573 | 214 | -62.7% |
| Steven PrakkenPsychiatry | Durham | 108 | 41 | -62% |
| Christopher AikenPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 529 | 207 | -60.9% |
| Charles GammonNeuropsychiatry | Raleigh | 84 | 33 | -60.7% |
| Donald KlasingPsychiatry | Gastonia | 538 | 215 | -60% |
| Steven VasPsychiatry | Cary | 66 | 27 | -59.1% |
| Pamela ReidPsychiatry | Chapel Hill | 34 | 14 | -58.8% |
| Mary BergPsychiatry | Asheville | 1,194 | 512 | -57.1% |
| Ria BattaglinoPsychiatry & Neurology | Cary | 28 | 12 | -57.1% |
| Atul KantesariaPsychiatry & Neurology | Fayetteville | 32 | 14 | -56.2% |
| Mathukutty JosephPsychiatry | Spindale | 27 | 12 | -55.6% |
| Anthony FrascaPsychiatry | Morganton | 146 | 65 | -55.5% |
| Anand JoshiPsychiatry | Wilmington | 110 | 49 | -55.5% |
| Joy RossPsychiatry & Neurology | Charlotte | 80 | 36 | -55% |
| Eric PetersonPsychiatry & Neurology | Asheville | 160 | 75 | -53.1% |
| Howard MasonPsychiatry | Shelby | 89 | 42 | -52.8% |
| Mark OdanielPsychiatry | Rocky Mount | 86 | 41 | -52.3% |
| Edward BridgesPsychiatry & Neurology | Durham | 23 | 11 | -52.2% |
| Patricia LillquistPsychiatry & Neurology | Jacksonville | 23 | 11 | -52.2% |
| William MatthewsPsychiatry | Raleigh | 27 | 13 | -51.9% |
| David SillarsPsychiatry | Asheville | 114 | 55 | -51.8% |
| Brett GurkinPsychiatry | Wilmington | 165 | 81 | -50.9% |
| Ricardo Bierrenbach DecastroPsychiatry | Asheville | 547 | 270 | -50.6% |
| Edward EntmacherPsychiatry & Neurology | Asheville | 260 | 129 | -50.4% |
| Joumana HassaniPsychiatry | Concord | 115 | 57 | -50.4% |
| Carol GibbsPsychiatry | Durham | 233 | 116 | -50.2% |
| Mizanur RahmanPsychiatry | Fayetteville | 164 | 82 | -50% |
| Raye ZhuPsychiatry & Neurology | Goldsboro | 54 | 27 | -50% |
| Malti MehtaPsychiatry | Charlotte | 24 | 12 | -50% |
| Catherine GreenPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 126 | 64 | -49.2% |
| Sarah PetersPsychiatry | North Wilkesboro | 378 | 193 | -48.9% |
| Anuradha ChallaPsychiatry | Hendersonville | 434 | 222 | -48.8% |
| William CannonPsychiatry | Raleigh | 136 | 70 | -48.5% |
| Gary PohlPsychiatry | Butner | 31 | 16 | -48.4% |
| Vicki MorrowPsychiatry | Westfield | 743 | 388 | -47.8% |
| Benjamin SmoakPsychiatry | Charlotte | 80 | 42 | -47.5% |
| James KimballPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 79 | 42 | -46.8% |
| John ClapacsPsychiatry | Burlington | 279 | 149 | -46.6% |
| Tracy WarePsychiatry | Carrboro | 144 | 77 | -46.5% |
| Kim QuangPsychiatry & Neurology | Goldsboro | 28 | 15 | -46.4% |
| David SmithPsychiatry | Carrboro | 46 | 25 | -45.7% |
| Susan FredriksenPsychiatry & Neurology | Lumberton | 252 | 137 | -45.6% |
| Elizabeth PekarekPsychiatry | Asheboro | 189 | 103 | -45.5% |
| Rasheed OnafuyePsychiatry | Monroe | 185 | 103 | -44.3% |
| Janardhana JonnalagaddaPsychiatry | Greensboro | 61 | 34 | -44.3% |
| Nilima ShuklaPsychiatry | Gastonia | 562 | 314 | -44.1% |
| Danielle ToddPsychiatry | Asheville | 50 | 28 | -44% |
| Douglas SmithPsychiatry | Albemarle | 314 | 177 | -43.6% |
| Mandeep KaurPsychiatry | Lumberton | 99 | 56 | -43.4% |
| Adamu SalisuPsychiatry | Monroe | 284 | 161 | -43.3% |
| Philip LavinePsychiatry | Burlington | 42 | 24 | -42.9% |
| Michael DorfmanPsychiatry & Neurology | Fayetteville | 399 | 229 | -42.6% |
| Stephen SandersPsychiatry & Neurology | Greensboro | 101 | 58 | -42.6% |
| Celeste GoodPsychiatry | Greenville | 396 | 230 | -41.9% |
| Deborah WilkinsPsychiatry | Durham | 191 | 111 | -41.9% |
| Eric MizellePsychiatry | Raleigh | 124 | 72 | -41.9% |
| Ronald VereenPsychiatry & Neurology | Durham | 81 | 48 | -40.7% |
| Lauren IsbellPsychiatry | Raleigh | 82 | 49 | -40.2% |
| Esther LyonsPsychiatry | Edenton | 110 | 66 | -40% |
| Gerald SibrackNeuropsychiatry | Raleigh | 25 | 15 | -40% |
| Christine ChildsPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 399 | 244 | -38.8% |
| Lawrence DunnPsychiatry | Henderson | 259 | 159 | -38.6% |
| Beverly JonesPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 587 | 361 | -38.5% |
| Timothy CarlsonPsychiatry & Neurology | Raleigh | 137 | 85 | -38% |
| Steven WorringhamPsychiatry & Neurology | Durham | 137 | 85 | -38% |
| Camillo GualtieriNeuropsychiatry | Chapel Hill | 108 | 67 | -38% |
| Shaheda MaroofPsychiatry | Raleigh | 151 | 94 | -37.7% |
| Robert FleuryPsychiatry | Pinehurst | 376 | 235 | -37.5% |
| David JarrettPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 498 | 312 | -37.3% |
| Henry EdmundsonPsychiatry | Smithfield | 585 | 370 | -36.8% |
| Punitha RathnamPsychiatry | Goldsboro | 737 | 469 | -36.4% |
| Justin GettingsNeuropsychiatry | Chapel Hill | 23 | 15 | -34.8% |
| Ravinder MamediPsychiatry | Roanoke Rapids | 1,167 | 765 | -34.4% |
| Karen GreenPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 763 | 502 | -34.2% |
| Rachel ThommenPsychiatry | Charlotte | 329 | 217 | -34% |
| Connie CalvertPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 492 | 325 | -33.9% |
| Gary LeonhardtPsychiatry | Greenville | 419 | 278 | -33.7% |
| Vikram ShuklaPsychiatry | Gastonia | 166 | 111 | -33.1% |
| Mark ReynoldsPsychiatry & Neurology | Durham | 119 | 80 | -32.8% |
| Michael LangPsychiatry | Greenville | 315 | 212 | -32.7% |
| James McallisterPsychiatry | Raleigh | 412 | 278 | -32.5% |
| April WelbornPsychiatry | Oxford | 136 | 92 | -32.4% |
| James BarkerPsychiatry | Hickory | 260 | 176 | -32.3% |
| John WagnitzPsychiatry | Sanford | 78 | 53 | -32.1% |
| Angel VazquezPsychiatry | Whiteville | 504 | 344 | -31.7% |
| Suja RajuPsychiatry | Huntersville | 206 | 141 | -31.6% |
| Mohammad Abu-SalhaPsychiatry | Clayton | 1,322 | 909 | -31.2% |
| Stephen PanykoPsychiatry | Butner | 23 | 16 | -30.4% |
| David AhlbergPsychiatry | Jacksonville | 387 | 271 | -30% |
| Surya ChallaPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 282 | 199 | -29.4% |
| Nerine TathamPsychiatry & Neurology | Durham | 48 | 34 | -29.2% |
| Gisela Knebl KohlPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 141 | 100 | -29.1% |
| Jason MastorPsychiatry | Mooresville | 1,120 | 807 | -27.9% |
| Arlene MillerPsychiatry | Chapel Hill | 189 | 138 | -27% |
| James MattoxPsychiatry & Neurology | Winston Salem | 122 | 89 | -27% |
| Kathryn NorfleetPsychiatry | Hendersonville | 72 | 53 | -26.4% |
| James SowellPsychiatry & Neurology | Lenoir | 122 | 90 | -26.2% |
| David BranyonNeuropsychiatry | Hickory | 61 | 45 | -26.2% |
| Brenda WillisPsychiatry | Hendersonville | 236 | 175 | -25.8% |
| Celso LobaoPsychiatry | Raleigh | 279 | 208 | -25.4% |
| Pranjal MannPsychiatry | Ahoskie | 746 | 564 | -24.4% |
| Richard GellarPsychiatry | Charlotte | 548 | 419 | -23.5% |
| Anthony DinomePsychiatry | Charlotte | 207 | 159 | -23.2% |
| Shabbir ChowdhuryPsychiatry | Fayetteville | 147 | 113 | -23.1% |
| Mario ZapataPsychiatry | Statesville | 352 | 272 | -22.7% |
| Margaret ChampionPsychiatry | Raleigh | 132 | 104 | -21.2% |
| Andrew NewbergPsychiatry | Chapel Hill | 104 | 82 | -21.2% |
| Nadeem AkhtarPsychiatry | Kernersville | 124 | 99 | -20.2% |
| Zahid RaufPsychiatry | Goldsboro | 138 | 111 | -19.6% |
| Christopher MyersPsychiatry | Wilmington | 278 | 225 | -19.1% |
| Kristin McarthurPsychiatry | Cary | 74 | 60 | -18.9% |
| Hansen SuPsychiatry | Hillsborough | 2,442 | 1,988 | -18.6% |
| Patricia ClarkPsychiatry & Neurology | Chapel Hill | 273 | 223 | -18.3% |
| Chunsheng WangPsychiatry | Durham | 60 | 49 | -18.3% |
| Muthiah SabanayagamPsychiatry | Goldsboro | 942 | 771 | -18.2% |
| Ruben SalinasPsychiatry & Neurology | New Bern | 674 | 553 | -18% |
| David MarksPsychiatry | Durham | 415 | 341 | -17.8% |
| Myleme HarrisonPsychiatry | Raleigh | 499 | 412 | -17.4% |
| Laura DunnPsychiatry | Concord | 465 | 387 | -16.8% |
| Kerry MusickPsychiatry | Mooresville | 259 | 217 | -16.2% |
| Deborah RossPsychiatry | Wilmington | 1,794 | 1,507 | -16% |
| Ashwin PatkarPsychiatry | Raleigh | 106 | 89 | -16% |
| Viswanathan SwaminathanPsychiatry | Plymouthy | 1,229 | 1,046 | -14.9% |
| Lee BourgeoisPsychiatry | Elkin | 1,055 | 911 | -13.6% |
| Megan PruettePsychiatry & Neurology | Chapel Hill | 31 | 27 | -12.9% |
| Ashima AnejaPsychiatry | Raleigh | 47 | 41 | -12.8% |
| Aaron BrodskyPsychiatry | Hendersonville | 480 | 420 | -12.5% |
| Viranga PathirajaPsychiatry | Charlotte | 193 | 169 | -12.4% |
| Gerald PlovskyPsychiatry | Greensboro | 2,405 | 2,108 | -12.3% |
| Samuel ThielmanPsychiatry | Asheville | 57 | 50 | -12.3% |
| Pamela BakerPsychiatry & Neurology | Asheville | 132 | 116 | -12.1% |
| Charles GodwinPsychiatry | Trent Woods | 953 | 839 | -12% |
| Martha ShupingPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 757 | 667 | -11.9% |
| Victor RosadoPsychiatry | Salisbury | 926 | 821 | -11.3% |
| Austin HallPsychiatry | Carrboro | 269 | 240 | -10.8% |
| Keshavpal ReddyPsychiatry | Greensboro | 2,158 | 1,931 | -10.5% |
| Matthew ConnerPsychiatry | Durham | 29 | 26 | -10.3% |
| Rosalind SpellsPsychiatry | Statesville | 49 | 44 | -10.2% |
| James WeissPsychiatry & Neurology | Chapel Hill | 51 | 46 | -9.8% |
| Thomas SpruillPsychiatry & Neurology | Raleigh | 543 | 491 | -9.6% |
| James PaytonNeuropsychiatry | Asheville | 205 | 187 | -8.8% |
| Nancy RomanPsychiatry & Neurology | Durham | 12 | 11 | -8.3% |
| Rano MathewPsychiatry | Wilmington | 41 | 38 | -7.3% |
| James LeePsychiatry | Spindale | 292 | 272 | -6.8% |
| Hans StelmachPsychiatry | Wilmington | 15 | 14 | -6.7% |
| Robert AdamsPsychiatry | Wilmington | 126 | 118 | -6.3% |
| Kellie TolinPsychiatry | Raleigh | 195 | 183 | -6.2% |
| Gerald TravisPsychiatry | Asheville | 112 | 105 | -6.2% |
| Devendra ShahNeuropsychiatry | Monroe | 681 | 642 | -5.7% |
| Krishna VermaPsychiatry | Wilson | 1,085 | 1,028 | -5.3% |
| Paul BuongiornoPsychiatry | Wilmington | 230 | 218 | -5.2% |
| James PawlowskiPsychiatry | Wilmington | 478 | 456 | -4.6% |
| Reina HisadaPsychiatry | Reidsville | 446 | 427 | -4.3% |
| Kathleen LappPsychiatry & Neurology | Chapel Hill | 27 | 26 | -3.7% |
| Vladimir MilsteinPsychiatry | Gastonia | 995 | 959 | -3.6% |
| Charles DavisPsychiatry | Hickory | 1,063 | 1,026 | -3.5% |
| Edward LovePsychiatry | High Point | 3,621 | 3,497 | -3.4% |
| Geetha ChandrasekaranPsychiatry & Neurology | Goldboro | 66 | 64 | -3% |
| Charmaine Lowe-HoytePsychiatry | Arden | 1,183 | 1,151 | -2.7% |
| Stephan BaumPsychiatry | Oxford | 287 | 280 | -2.4% |
| Srimathi VenkataramanPsychiatry | Greenville | 252 | 248 | -1.6% |
| Mary MandellPsychiatry | Pinehurst | 776 | 764 | -1.5% |
| Lynn WessonPsychiatry | Asheboro | 384 | 381 | -0.8% |
| William MarshallPsychiatry | Clemmons | 1,148 | 1,142 | -0.5% |
| Oleg TcheremissinePsychiatry | Charlotte | 210 | 209 | -0.5% |
| Jun HePsychiatry | Raleigh | 12 | 12 | 0% |
| Bradley GaynesPsychiatry | Chapel Hill | 12 | 12 | 0% |
| Andrew MyersonPsychiatry | Chapel Hill | 12 | 12 | 0% |
| Gregory DrayPsychiatry | Asheville | 239 | 242 | +1.3% |
| Halimena CrequePsychiatry | Winston-Salem | 463 | 471 | +1.7% |
| Robert ChristianPsychiatry | Chapel Hill | 42 | 43 | +2.4% |
| Lee LarcadePsychiatry & Neurology | Raleigh | 94 | 97 | +3.2% |
| Chin Ho PakPsychiatry | Monroe | 199 | 207 | +4% |
| Angela LimaPsychiatry | Burlington | 521 | 543 | +4.2% |
| Cary IronsPsychiatry & Neurology | Carrboro | 22 | 23 | +4.5% |
| Ramesh GihwalaPsychiatry | Gastonia | 588 | 615 | +4.6% |
| Tracy LatzPsychiatry & Neurology | Mooresville | 379 | 397 | +4.7% |
| James BrownPsychiatry | Raleigh | 43 | 45 | +4.7% |
| Barry WilliamsPsychiatry | Winston-Salem | 485 | 509 | +4.9% |
| Rigardy MunozPsychiatry | Wilmington | 635 | 670 | +5.5% |
| Kyle LongPsychiatry | Winston Salem | 509 | 537 | +5.5% |
| William WillisPsychiatry | Fayetteville | 152 | 162 | +6.6% |
| Jane SteinerPsychiatry | Greensboro | 322 | 344 | +6.8% |
| Megan WebsterPsychiatry | Raleigh | 73 | 78 | +6.8% |
| Lance RegerPsychiatry & Neurology | Charlotte | 109 | 117 | +7.3% |
| Marla WaldPsychiatry | Durham | 26 | 28 | +7.7% |
| Alyssa GeorgePsychiatry | Raleigh | 116 | 125 | +7.8% |
| David ZarzarPsychiatry & Neurology | Raleigh | 63 | 68 | +7.9% |
| Robert MchalePsychiatry | Albemarle | 742 | 801 | +8% |
| Mark HeinePsychiatry | Durham | 123 | 133 | +8.1% |
| James BellardPsychiatry | Raleigh | 243 | 264 | +8.6% |
| Howard PalayNeuropsychiatry | Clyde | 140 | 152 | +8.6% |
| Elizabeth HillPsychiatry | Banner Elk | 118 | 129 | +9.3% |
| Michael ChristoPsychiatry | Charlotte | 207 | 227 | +9.7% |
| Peter Van DyckPsychiatry & Neurology | Raleigh | 622 | 685 | +10.1% |
| Amy CanusoPsychiatry | Camp Lejeune | 213 | 236 | +10.8% |
| Scott CrowderPsychiatry | Wilmington | 212 | 235 | +10.8% |
| Jonathan MckinseyPsychiatry | Concord | 62 | 69 | +11.3% |
| Ada KhouryPsychiatry & Neurology | Asheville | 17 | 19 | +11.8% |
Showing the 250 largest reductions of 622 prescribers in North Carolina.
Figures are reproduced from the CMS public use files without alteration. Clinicians who believe a row misstates their record can write to support@taperoffbenzos.com and we will check it against the source file and correct or remove it.
Finding a prescriber in North Carolina
This data describes prescribing patterns; it does not tell you who will support a slow taper. For that, our guide to finding a benzo-wise prescriber compares every free provider directory that exists and lists the five questions that predict how a taper will go. If you already have a prescriber, the taper calculator generates a schedule to review with them.
Frequently asked questions
Is benzodiazepine prescribing rising or falling in North Carolina?
It fell 18.4% between 2013 and 2024 in Medicare Part D — a steeper fall than the country as a whole, where prescribing fell 12.9%. In 2024, North Carolina recorded 1,354,252 benzodiazepine claims across 275,705 patients.
How does North Carolina compare to other states?
North Carolina ranks 18 of 51 for prescribing intensity, at 4.91 benzodiazepine fills per patient per year, and 20 of 51 for the size of its decline since 2013 (1 being the steepest fall).
Which benzodiazepine is prescribed most in North Carolina?
Alprazolam, at 474,608 claims — 35% of the state's benzodiazepine prescribing in 2024. Next are Clonazepam (25.7%) and Lorazepam (23.9%).
Source
CMS Medicare Part D Prescribers public use files, data years 2013–2024 (US Government work, public domain). Medicare Part D only — it excludes commercial insurance and cash-pay, skews toward patients 65 and over, and suppresses cells of 10 or fewer claims. Full methodology and limitations are on the national page.