F13.10
BillableSedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic abuse, uncomplicated
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 138 — Drug Use Disorder/Substance Use Disorder, Mild
0.476V24HCC 56 — Drug/Alcohol Abuse, Without Dependence
0.000ESRDHCC 56 — Drug/Alcohol Abuse, Without Dependence
0.000What This Code Means
A person misuses sedatives, sleeping pills, or anti-anxiety medications without meeting criteria for dependence, and has no current complications.
Coding Tips
Clinical Significance
Sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic abuse, uncomplicated, captures the misuse of benzodiazepines, barbiturates, sleeping pills, or similar medications without current complications. This category of substance abuse is particularly important because many of these medications are prescribed, making the line between appropriate use and abuse critically important to document. Sedative abuse carries risks of respiratory depression, cognitive impairment, and falls, particularly in elderly patients.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of abuse pattern (maladaptive use causing impairment or distress)
- ✓Identification of the specific substance(s) being abused (benzodiazepines, barbiturates, zolpidem, etc.) when possible
- ✓Distinction between prescribed use and misuse/abuse
- ✓Confirmation that no current complications (intoxication, withdrawal, psychosis) are present
- ✓Clinical criteria supporting abuse rather than dependence
Commonly Confused Codes
F13.20 — Sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic dependence, uncomplicated; use when dependence criteria are metF13.11 — Sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic abuse, in remission; use when the patient is in recoveryF13.120 — Sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic abuse with intoxication, uncomplicated; use when active intoxication is presentZ79.899 — Other long term (current) drug therapy; use for prescribed long-term sedative use without abuse
Code Hierarchy
└F13Sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic related disorders└F13.1Sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic-related abuse└F13.10Sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic abuse, uncomplicated
└F13.10Sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic abuse, uncomplicated