Citation

Modesto-Lowe V, Chaplin MM, León-Barriera R, Jain L. Cleve. Clin. J. Med. 2024; 91(5): 293-299.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Cleveland Clinic Educational Foundation)

DOI

10.3949/ccjm.91a.23061

PMID

38692699

Abstract

Benzodiazepines are widely used but can cause considerable harm, including sedation, addiction, falls, fractures, and cognitive impairment, especially with long-term use and in elderly patients. The authors propose a public health approach to reduce the potential for harm when using benzodiazepines to treat insomnia. Primary prevention involves judicious patient selection and patient education. Secondary prevention requires keeping the duration of use as short as possible according to guidelines. Tertiary prevention, for patients who have been taking a benzodiazepine for a long time, uses shared decision-making to introduce a gradual and carefully monitored taper.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Public Health; *Benzodiazepines/adverse effects/therapeutic use; *Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/drug therapy; Hypnotics and Sedatives/adverse effects/therapeutic use; Patient Education as Topic; Patient Selection; Primary Prevention/methods