Risks Associated With Benzodiazepine Long-Term Use in Chronic Insomnia: A Systematic Review and (Network) Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This systematic literature review evaluated the risks of using benzodiazepine medications for more than 3 months in adults with chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia is defined as ongoing dissatisfaction with sleep quantity or quality, causing significant distress and impaired functioning during the day. Although benzodiazepine medications are often prescribed to treat insomnia, using them longer than 4 weeks raises concerns about dependence, negative side effects, and long-term health risks for patients. This review included 27 studies published between 1987 and 2023, focusing on adults with insomnia symptoms lasting at least 3 months. The main outcomes examined were sleep quality, safety issues such as risk of falls, mental health concerns including depression and anxiety, and overall quality of life. Five outcomes were deemed suitable for meta-analysis: severity of insomnia, sleep quality, incidence of falls, depression, and anxiety. The results showed that people taking benzodiazepine medications had more severe insomnia than healthy sleepers, but less severe than those who were not taking any medication. The risk of falls was similar between those using benzodiazepine medications and those who were not. However, people using these medications experienced significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to healthy sleepers. This review highlights a lack of studies on the long-term use of benzodiazepine medications, but suggests that extended use may worsen sleep quality, mental health, and quality of life. The findings support guidelines recommending limited use and prioritizing behavioural therapy and alternative safer pharmacotherapies for insomnia.