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Older adults are more and more discontinuing benzodiazepines quickly after hospital discharge, however a big quantity proceed use for months, placing them in danger for severe well being issues, based on new analysis printed within the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
A category of medicines generally prescribed for short-term aid of hysteria, sleep issues, or agitation, benzodiazepines may be efficient within the hospital setting. However extended use has been linked to elevated danger of falls, reminiscence and considering issues, dependence, and motorcar accidents—all of which might threaten older adults’ well being and independence.
Consultants, together with the American Society of Habit Drugs, just lately issued up to date pointers concerning tapering sufferers off of benzodiazepines after hospitalization to be able to forestall dependence and severe antagonistic outcomes in older adults.
In keeping with the researchers, roughly 15% of older adults continued utilizing benzodiazepines for 2 months after hospitalization. Sufferers at larger danger embrace these with insomnia, older adults with frailty, and sufferers beginning new antidepressants or antipsychotics.
“While it’s encouraging to see more patients stopping these medications quickly, we remain concerned about the older adults who continue to use long-acting benzodiazepines because they face higher risks of falls, memory problems, and dependence,” mentioned Kevin T. Pritchard, OT, Ph.D., OTR, co-author and postdoctoral analysis fellow on the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Growing older Analysis at Hebrew SeniorLife.
“Our findings suggest that future deprescribing strategies should specifically target high-risk patients in order to address both the clinical challenges of discontinuation and the underlying conditions that may contribute to prolonged use. We also recommend medication reviews, patient education programs, benzodiazepine substitutions, and nonpharmacological therapies to prevent chronic use.”
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Hebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Growing older Analysis
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Examine finds decline in long-term benzodiazepine use amongst older adults, however dangers stay (2025, September 10)
retrieved 11 September 2025
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