Study Highlights Sedative Risks for Elderly

Xanax, Ativan and Valium are powerful prescription medications used to treat a host of conditions – ranging from severe anxiety and panic attacks to seizures and chronic insomnia. In a class of drugs known as Benzodiazepines, these sedatives can cause short term and lasting side effects such as dizziness, decreased attention, drowsiness and lack of coordination. Such effects, while well tolerated in young, healthy adults, can prove disastrous in elderly patients, however.

New research on sedative use in elderly indicates that Benzodiazepines are often over-prescribed to this population, putting already frail seniors in danger of debilitating falls, impaired cognitive abilities, withdrawal symptoms and addiction.

The study, which was published online December 17 in JAMA Psychiatry, sought to examine Benzodiazepine prescription patterns in the U.S. — concentrating on both patient age and duration of usage.

Sedative risks for elderly patients

Researchers gathered pertinent data from LifeLink LRX Longitudinal Prescription, which compiles prescriptions from more than half of retail pharmacies in the country. According to the study, nearly 8 percent of seniors aged 51 to 64 and over 8 percent of those 65 to 80 took sedatives such as Valium on a regular basis. Researchers also discovered that nearly 12 percent of females aged 60 to 80 took Benzodiazepines like Xanax.

The study’s lead author, Mark Olfson, noted that widespread use of sedatives among the elderly may prove problematic, considering they are more prone to suffering falls and developing dementia.

The study also found that the majority of seniors obtained their sedative prescriptions from primary care physicians rather than psychiatrists.

The American Geriatrics Society recommends against the prescription of sedatives like Xanax, Ativan and Valium in elderly patients, given the risk of adverse side effects and serious injury.

“More vigorous clinical interventions supporting judicious benzodiazepine use may be needed to decrease rates of long-term benzodiazepine use in older adults,” concluded the researchers.

Benzodiazepines not controlled substances

Mounting concern about sedative risks for elderly patients was also highlighted in a separate editorial published in the same medical journal, JAMA Psychiatry, by Nicholas Moore, M.D., Ph.D. The report backed up evidence that older female patients tend to use Benzodiazepines for longer periods of time compared to younger patients – but after initial improvements, the drug stops working and the patient often suffers withdrawal anxiety and/or insomnia.

Dr. Moore concludes that medications like Valium and Xanax should be controlled substances – classified with other addictive drugs and closely monitored for refills.

As more reports suggest that older patients are at a greater risk of becoming dependent on sedatives, and more sensitive to side effects like impaired motor skills, memory lapses and drowsiness – caution must be taken when prescribing these powerful psycho-active medications. Even a minor fall can result in a fractured hip, and heavy daytime sedation may contribute to a motor vehicle accident. Doctors who negligently overprescribe sedatives to elderly patients may be liable for medical malpractice.

An earlier study conducted by Canadian researchers and published in the British Medical Journal also suggests that risk of side effects like loss of balance, falls, lightheadedness and disorientation outweigh the perceived benefits of sedatives. Researchers, who were led by Toronto-based Dr. Usoa Busto, looked at over-the-counter medications as well as prescription Benzodiazepines, finding that older patients were more than 100 percent more likely to suffer an adverse event after using a sedative.

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