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Benzodiazepines include the medications alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan). These drugs are widely prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep problems. But while effective, they have serious risks—especially when used over long periods. Long-term use can lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms when discontinued. Benzodiazepines can impair cognition, mobility, and driving skills in older people, as well as increase the risk of falls. A recent study also found an association between benzodiazepine use in older people and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The analysis reveals worrisome patterns in the prescribing of benzodiazepines for older adults.
Practice guidelines now recommend psychotherapy approaches and antidepressants as the initial treatment for anxiety. For insomnia, guidelines recommend behavioral interventions as first treatment.
Despite the large number of benzodiazepine prescriptions in the United States — 85 million in 2007 — relatively little has been known about prescription patterns. Dr. Mark Olfson at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, Dr. Marissa King at Yale University, and Dr. Michael Schoenbaum at NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) thus examined rates of benzodiazepine use by sex and age.
The researchers examined prescription patterns from 2008 using data from a national prescription database (IMS LifeLink LRx Longitudinal Prescription database) and a national database on medical expenditures collected by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The study appeared online on December 17, 2014, in JAMA Psychiatry.
Among all adults ages 18 to 80 years, about 1 in 20 received a benzodiazepine prescription in 2008. This fraction rose substantially with age, from 2.6% among those 18 to 35, to 8.7% in those 65 to 80. Long-term use—for more than 120 days—also increased markedly with age. Of people 65 to 80 who used benzodiazepines, 31.4% received prescriptions for long-term use, vs. 14.7% of adults 18 to 35.
In all age groups, women were about twice as likely as men to receive benzodiazepines. Among women 65 to 80 years old, 1 in 10 was prescribed one of these medications, with almost a third of those receiving long-term prescriptions.
Most prescriptions for benzodiazepines were written by non-psychiatrists. Overall, about two-thirds of prescriptions for long-term use were written by non-psychiatrists; for adults 65 to 80, the figure was 9 out of 10.
“These medications can pose real risks, and there are often safer alternatives available,” Schoenbaum says. “Our findings strongly suggest that we need strategies to reduce benzodiazepine use, particularly for older women.”
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* The above story is reprinted from materials provided by National Institutes of Health (NIH) ** The National Institutes of Health (NIH) , a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency—making important discoveries that improve health and save lives. The National Institutes of Health is made up of 27 different components called Institutes and Centers. Each has its own specific research agenda. All but three of these components receive their funding directly from Congress, and administrate their own budgets.
Immune System Reset May Halt Multiple Sclerosis Progression MS is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system. It results in damage to nerve fibers, disrupting communication between the brain and the body. The disease’s widely varying symptoms can include tingling or numbness in extremities, motor and speech difficulties, weakness, […]
Pathways Underlying the Benefits of Calorie Restriction Calorie restriction is the process of reducing food intake—typically by at least 30% from a normal diet—without malnutrition. Researchers have known since the 1930’s that this regimen, also referred to as dietary restriction, has numerous health benefits. It can extend the lifespan of yeast, worms, flies, and some […]
Great news for all those women (and men) who have wanted to try the beautifying effects of snail slime but could never get past the “ick” factor. 20yrsyounger.com promises to get rid of the Ewww… while still letting women reap the anti-aging and rejuvenating benefits of snail slime cream. The process itself is called lyophilisation […]
Vitamin D Levels Predict Multiple Sclerosis Progression Among people with early-stage multiple sclerosis (MS), those with higher blood levels of vitamin D had better outcomes during 5 years of follow-up. Identifying and correcting vitamin D insufficiency could aid in the early treatment of MS. MS is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that […]
Toxin Kills HIV-Infected Cells An HIV-specific poison can kill cells in which the virus is still reproducing despite antiretroviral therapy, a study in mice showed. Such targeted therapies could become a tool in strategies to combat HIV. Electron micrograph of HIV (colored green) on human lymphocytes. Image by C. Goldsmith, P. Feorino, E. L. […]
Nature-Inspired Surgical Glue Mends Hearts Researchers developed a new tissue adhesive that is biodegradable, biocompatible, and easily manipulated. It could allow for less invasive surgeries that don’t require sutures or staples. The waterproof, light-activated glue can successfully secure biodegradable patches to seal holes in a beating heart. Image courtesy of Karp Laboratory. During surgery, reconnecting […]
Cognitive Training Shows Staying Power Ten years after a training program was completed, certain cognitive abilities were still improved in older adults, according to a new report. The findings suggest that cognitive interventions could help older people remain independent for longer. To test whether training could improve the cognitive abilities of older adults, healthy seniors […]
Distracted Driving Raises Crash Risk Researchers used video technology and in-vehicle sensors to show that distracted driving, particularly among new drivers, substantially raises the risk for car crashes and near crashes. They also found that drivers eat, reach for the phone, text, or otherwise take their eyes off the road about 10% of the time. […]
Arthritis Genetics Analysis Aids Drug Discovery An international research team identified 42 new areas in the human genome associated with rheumatoid arthritis—and found that many are already the targets of drugs approved for other conditions. The findings hint at new treatment approaches for the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can cause […]
Oxytocin Affects Facial Recognition A genetic variation in the receptor for oxytocin, a hormone involved in social bonding, affects the ability to remember faces in families with a child who has autism. The finding points the way to a better understanding of oxytocin’s role in social behavior. Animals that live in social groups need to […]
Medications can be effective when they are used properly, but some can be addictive and dangerous when abused. This chart provides a brief look at some prescribed medications that—when used in ways or by people other than prescribed—have the potential for adverse medical consequences, including addiction. In 2010, approximately 16 million Americans reported using a […]
Saw palmetto Treatments
In men: used to treat and relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); shrinks the prostate and releases the squeeze of the urethra, so that, urine flows normally; increases urine volume, decreases frequent urination, and more ease of urination.
In women: helps relieve painful periods and regulates the menstrual cycle; stimulates the production of prolactin, a female hormone that promotes breast enlargement. Used to treat urinary tract and bladder infections; has an aphrodisiac effect by enhancing sexual functioning and sexual desire.
Actually, there is no reason to be embarrassed. Enlarged breasts are common among teenage boys and men, and breast reduction surgery is increasingly popular among guys. In fact, in the US it’s the fourth most popular cosmetic surgical procedure among males, with nearly 17,000 of them performed in 2009 alone.
But it’s not just the types of carbs that matter. The more carbs you eat, the more your blood sugar rises. “The glycemic index really doesn’t take into consideration how much you eat,” explains Dr. Somdat Mahabir, who studies cancer risk at NIH.
That’s why researchers came up with the concept of glycemic load. It captures both the types of carbs in a food and the amount of carbs in a serving. Essentially, it shows how a portion of food affects your blood sugar. Many things affect the glycemic load, including food processing, how ripe a fruit is, how a food is prepared and how long it’s been stored.
The specific type of birth defect depends on the systems in the fetus developing at the time of alcohol exposure. Organ systems are most vulnerable to damage by alcohol during the period of most dynamic development. The damage seen in animal models roughly corresponds to weeks 3 to 8 in human pregnancy. However, if a woman drinks any time throughout her pregnancy, damage may occur.
