Overuse of benzodiazepines for anxiety disorders in older adults and cognitive decline: Which alternatives?

Abstract

Benzodiazepines (BDZs) are psychotropic drugs that are often used to treat anxiety, including in older people. It is known that BDZs are sometimes prescribed inappropriately or used for longer than allowed by the guidelines. As a result, BDZs may be associated with tolerance symptoms, cognitive impairment, and confusion, especially when taken by geriatric patients. On the other hand, chronic anxiety is also known to be associated with cognitive decline in older age. This review analyzes the effects of inappropriate consumption of BDZs over a long period of time in older adults and proposes therapeutic alternatives to combat anxiety symptoms in the older adults.