Are Older Adults Taking Benzodiazepines Safely?

A new review published in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry studied the effectiveness and tolerability for benzodiazepines among older adults with three conditions for which such drugs are typically prescribed — insomnia, anxiety disorders, and dementia, reports U.S. News & World Report . For insomnia treatment, 21 of 25 studies indicated improved sleep outcomes, while a single related study on anxiety observed a benefit with benzodiazepines compared to placebos. However, only one of five studies on behavioral disturbances in dementia showed improvement versus placebos. The University of Michigan's Lauren Gerlach concluded "benzodiazepine prescribing in older adults is significantly in excess of what the available evidence suggests is appropriate." Another study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found taking benzodiazepines over prolonged periods to be common among older adults, even though they are recommended for short-term use only. Gerelach noted most people are expected to take the drugs for about one to three months, but she said, "Most of the people who were staying on these medications long-term were receiving at least eight months of medication over the following year." Gerlach also warned the risks of side effects from benzodiazepines are elevated for older adults, given changes in how their bodies metabolize medications. "Despite benzodiazepines being widely prescribed to persons with behavioral disturbances in dementia, there is little evidence to show that these medications provide any benefit other than sedation," she noted.