Are There a Easy Way to Get Off Druglorazeoam

Have you heard of Ativan (generic name lorazepam), and of the risks of benzodiazepines drugs in older adults? Is an older person you care for taking prescription medication for sleep, anxiety, or "nerves"?

Would you like an easy, practical tool to help someone stop a drug whose risks often outweigh the benefits?

If so, I have good news: a wonderful new patient education tool has been created by a well-respected expert in geriatrics, Dr. Cara Tannenbaum. Best of all, her recently published study proved that this tool works.

As in, 62% older adults who received this tool — a brochure with a quiz followed by key information — discussed stopping the medication with a doctor or pharmacist, and27% were successful in discontinuing their benzodiazepine. The brochure includes a handy illustrated guide on slowly and safely weaning a person off these habit-forming drugs.

This is big news because although experts widely agree that long-term benzodiazepine use should be avoided in older adults, getting doctors and patients to work together to stop has been tough. It is, after all, generally easier to start a tranquilizer than to stop it!

But through a patient education brochure, Dr. Tannenbaum's team was able to make this tricky process much more doable for older adults, their families, and their doctors.

The must-read information brochure on Ativan and older adults

If your older relative is taking Ativan (generic name lorazepam), I highly recommend you read Dr. Tannenbaum's brochure. It provides really good information about these drugs, and includes practical tips on how to address sleep and anxiety issues without using drugs.

You can get a copy of the brochure — which includes a sample taper schedule — here: You May Be At Risk: You are Taking a Sedative-Hypnotic.

Note: It can be dangerous — as well as physically very uncomfortable — to suddenly stop benzodiazepines. Discontinuing benzodiazepines should involve a gradual lowering of the dose. This process should always be done with the supervision and support of a healthcare professional.

Other sedatives to consider stopping

The brochure above covers Ativan along with other benzodiazepines, such as Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, and Restoril (generic names diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam, and temazepam, respectively). It also covers commonly-used sleeping pills such as zolpidem (brand name Ambien)

Why it's important to try to stop benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are a commonly used type of tranquilizing medication. These drugs are usually prescribed for sleep, anxiety, or agitation.

However, benzodiazepines are much riskier than many older adults realize. For instance, research has found these drugs:

• Worsen balance and thinking;
• Increase the risk of falls, and of fractures;
• Can make dementia symptoms worse;
• Are linked to a higher risk of dying within a few years.

Because of these problems, in 2013 the American Geriatrics Society's Choosing Wisely list included benzodiazepines as one of the "5 Things Physicians and Patients Should Question," when it comes to healthcare for older adults.

But unfortunately, benzodiazepines are easily habit-forming, meaning that the body becomes dependent on them quite quickly. (And occasionally, some patients develop problematic abuse of these drugs.)

So it's important to offer an older adult the right approach, and a lot of support, when it comes to getting off these drugs.

I especially recommend avoiding benzodiazepines in people with memory concerns or a dementia such as Alzheimer's disease. Benzodiazepines act on the same brain receptors as alcohol, and they almost always keep people with dementia from thinking at their best level.

Studies have also found that people who take benzodiazepines have an increased risk of developing dementia.

Is it ever okay for an older adult to take benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines, like all drugs and medical interventions, need to be considered by balancing their likely benefits with their burdens and harms.

There are some older patients — often with severe chronic anxiety —  who seem to overall benefit from a low dose of these drugs.

Ideally, benzodiazepines should be used as a last resort, after making a serious attempt to treat insomnia and anxiety with non-drug approaches. These can include techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, regular exercise, and stress-reduction techniques. For people with dementia, providing caregivers with coaching on managing difficult behaviors can also help.

I do have some older patients who are on benzodiazepines. I don't like it, but usually we've tried other things, discussed the risks with the family, and concluded that this balance of benefits versus risks is acceptable. We also usually work to find the lowest possible dose.

Tips for caregivers

If your older loved one is taking a benzodiazepine:

• Do make sure you and the older person are properly informed about the side-effects, risks, and alternative options for treating insomnia or anxiety. Dr. Tannenbaum's brochure is a terrific resource for this.
• Do talk to the doctors about attempting a taper off the drug. It's usually worthwhile in the long-run. Even a reduction in dose can help reduce side-effects and risks.
• Don't try to suddenly stop the benzodiazepines. Reducing these medications should be done gradually, and under medical supervision.

If your older loved one complains of insomnia or anxiety:

• Do question things if the doctor proposes a benzodiazepine or other tranquilizer as a solution. Ask for help with lifestyle changes and cognitive therapy instead. Remember that these drugs are much easier to start than they are to stop!

Questions about benzodiazepines in older adults? Please post in the comments below!

Update October 2015: I just came across an important study report. In a randomized trial to help older adults taper off benzodiazepines for insomnia, 76 older adults were assigned to one of three 10-week interventions: supervised benzodiazepine taper, cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia, or a combination of the two. All three groups were able to decrease their benzodiazepine use, and 63% of participants were drug-free at 7 weeks. In other words, it IS possible to learn to sleep without these medications, even if you've been taking them for years.

Update June 2017: Here are two additional resources to help if you want to learn more about tapering benzodiazepines:

• The "Ashton Manual" is a detailed online resource, created an English psychopharmacology professor who is an expert on benzodiazepines. Find it here:Benzodiazepines: How they work and how to withdraw.
• This article describes a journalist's experience trying to taper off benzodiazepines, and her frustrations with medical professionals who seemed to underestimate the risks of using these drugs: I Tried to Get Off Ativan.

shellershoseathe.blogspot.com

Source: https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/how-to-stop-ativan/

Share this post