The use of benzodiazepines in the aged patient: clinical and pharmacological considerations.
Benzodiazepines are widely used to treat anxiety and insomnia in elderly patients. The interest of this prescription is discussed in this article. The discussion is based on the pharmacological properties and adverse effects of benzodiazepines in the elderly subjects. The conclusions are that benzodiazepines should be rarely prescribed in elderly people; many patients treated by benzodiazepines should be withdrawn and other therapeutic strategies than benzodiazepines should be considered to treat anxiety and insomnia in the elderly patients.
Dailly
Eric
E
EA 3256 Neurobiologie de l'anxiété et de la dépression, Faculté de Médecine, BP 53508 1, rue Gaston Veil, 44035 Nantes Cédex 01, France.
Bourin
Michel
M
D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines