are benzodiazepines bad
Diazepam, 2 mg and 5 mg diazepam tablets, are commonly used in the treatment of benzodiazepine withdrawal. Chlordiazepoxide, 5 mg capsules, are sometimes used as an alternative to diazepam for benzodiazepine withdrawal. Like diazepam, it has a long elimination half-life and long-acting active metabolites. Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome—often abbreviated to benzo withdrawal—is the cluster of symptoms that emerge when a person who has taken benzodiazepines, either medically or recreationally, and has developed a physical dependence undergoes dosage reduction or discontinuation. Benzodiazepines Bad for the Elderly. I just got a heads up from a Psychiatric News Alert that benzodiazepines can increase dementia in elderly patients. The information comes from a French study which found a “robust” increase in the risk for dementia in older patients who take benzodiazepines [1]. Yes, Benzos Are Bad For You. Posted June 10, 2016 in Drug Law and Policy, Roundtable Discussion by Allen Frances. WARNING: I will be saying very negative things about benzodiazepines in an effort to force doctors to think twice before prescribing them and to discourage patients from ever using them. In my opinion, all of the legitimate indications for benzos are very short term. However, in real life, most people take them long term, in doses high enough to be addicting, and for the wrong reasons. Benzodiazepines are used for treating: 1  anxiety and panic. 2  seizures (convulsions), and. 3  insomnia or trouble sleeping. It has been more than 30 years since I last prescribed a benzo for anxiety. In my view, the only legitimate uses in psychiatry now are for very short-term relief of catatonia, for severe agitation, and for detox from benzos. For everyone else, risk of addiction outweighs the potential benefit of use. What Are Benzodiazepines? Benzodiazepines are a class of medications that work in the central nervous system and are used for a variety of medical conditions. As a class, benzodiazepines are similar in how they work in the brain but have different potencies, durations of actions, and receptor site affinities. Because of this, some benzodiazepines work better than others in the treatment of particular conditions. This is not the only problem that can occur with benzodiazepine in the elderly or anyone for that matter. This class of drugs can cause delirium, falls, forgetfulness, and addiction to these agents, which are very much like alcohol in terms of which brain receptors they act upon. Benzodiazepines Bad for the Elderly. October 11, 2012 by. I just got a heads up from a Psychiatric News Alert that benzodiazepines can increase dementia in elderly patients. The information comes from a French study which found a “robust” increase in the risk for dementia in older patients who take benzodiazepines [1].
Yes, benzodiazepines are bad for the elderly as it increases the risk for dementia.