The Dangers of Benzodiazepine Use in the Elderly

More senior citizens take benzos than any other age group. And yet, they are also the group most at-risk for complications. What are the effects of this dangerous combination? And what can be done to buck the overprescribing trend?

In today’s episode, we look at the stats, the warnings, and the consequences of benzodiazepine and Z-drug use in the elderly. We also shine the spotlight on the website benzo.org.uk, share a story from Grand Junction, Colorado, and discuss anti-depressants and sleepless nights.

https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/the-dangers-of-benzodiazepine-use-in-the-elderly-bfp015

Video ID: BFP015

00:00 Introduction

06:41 Mailbag

12:02 Benzo News

14:45 Benzo Spotlight

18:30 Benzo Story

25:40 Feature: Benzos and the Elderly

44:03 Moment of Peace

The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Easing Anxiety of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein.

INTRODUCTION

• “The Lost Years: A Father, A Son, Benzos, and Aging” by D E Foster

BENZO NEWS

• “Benzos added to fentanyl causing hard-to-revive overdose problems” by Karen Graham in Digital Journal
• “Benzodiazepines intake may increase miscarriage risk” by Medha Baranwal in Speciality Medical Dialogues
• “‘Hello, It’s Me:’ Loneliness in Benzo Withdrawal” by D E Foster in Benzo Free
• “The world’s happiest people have a beautifully simple way to tackle loneliness” by Jenny Anderson in QZ.com
• Podcast Episode #14 — “Finding Faith, Hope, and Acceptance in Benzo Withdrawal: A Conversation with Jennifer Leigh, PsyD”
• “My Fifth-Year Anniversary” by Holly Hardman on As Prescribed Blog
• “7 Effective Thought-Stopping Techniques for Anxiety” by Melissa Stanger on Thrive Global
• “Anxiety ‘epidemic’ brewing on college campuses, researchers find” by Will Kane on Berkeley News

BENZO SPOTLIGHT

• Benzo.org.uk

FEATURE: Benzos and the Elderly

• “American Geriatrics Society 2015 Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults.”
• Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw (aka The Ashton Manual) by C. Heather Ashton
• “Benzodiazepine Use and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease: Case-Control Study.” BMJ
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Prescribing Guidelines for Pennsylvania: Safe Prescribing Benzodiazepines for Acute Treatment of Anxiety & Insomnia.
• “Physicians’ perspectives on prescribing benzodiazepines for older adults: a qualitative study.” Journal of General Internal Medicine
• Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal by D E Foster
• “Yes, Benzos Are Bad for You” by Dr. Frances Allen
• “Factors Associated With Long-term Benzodiazepine Use Among Older Adults.” JAMA Intern Med.
• “No End in Sight: Benzodiazepine Use in Older Adults in the United States.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
• “Benzodiazepine Use in the United States.” JAMA Psychiatry
• “The Benzodiazepine–Dementia Disorders Link: Current State of Knowledge.” CNS Drugs
• “Risk of Death Associated with New Benzodiazepine Use Among Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease — a Matched Cohort Study.” International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
• “Benzodiazepine Dependence and Withdrawal in Elderly Patients.” The American Journal of Psychiatry
• “The New Old Age: A Quiet Drug Problem Among the Elderly.” by Paul Span in The New York Times.
• “Once prescribed, 25% of elderly become dependent on benzodiazepines: JAMA.” by Hina Zahid in Speciality Medical Dialogues.

FORMAL REFERENCES

• American Geriatrics Society (AGS). “American Geriatrics Society 2015 Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults.” Beers Criteria Update Expert Panel (2015). Accessed April 9, 2018. http://www.sigot.org/allegato_docs/1057_Beers-Criteria.pdf.
• Ashton, C. Heather. Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw (aka The Ashton Manual). 2002. Accessed April 13, 2016. http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual.
• Billioti de Gage, Sophie, Yola Moride, Thierry Ducruet, Tobias Kurth, Hélène Verdoux, Marie Tournier, Antoine Pariente and Bernard Bégaud. “Benzodiazepine Use and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease: Case-Control Study.” BMJ 349(g5205)(2014). Accessed January 30, 2017. doi:10.1136/bmj.g5205.
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Prescribing Guidelines for Pennsylvania: Safe Prescribing Benzodiazepines for Acute Treatment of Anxiety & Insomnia. Updated May 15, 2017. Accessed April 7, 2018. https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/Documents/Opioids/PA%20Guidelines%20on%20Benzo%20Prescribing.pdf
• Cook, J.M., R. Marshall, C. Masci, and J.C. Coyne. “Physicians’ perspectives on prescribing benzodiazepines for older adults: a qualitative study.” Journal of General Internal Medicine 2007 Mar;22(3):303-7. Accessed April 22, 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17356959
• Foster, D E. Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, Colorado: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. http://www.benzofree.org/book.
• Frances, Allen. “Yes, Benzos Are Bad for You.” Pro Talk: A Rehabs.com Community, June 10, 2016. Accessed October 13, 2016. https...