Nearly one out of every three elderly people will experience a fall every year. This can have profound effects on their bones as well as their self confidence. ...
The elderly are much more likely to suffer a serious fall which leads to a hospital stay if they are taking a sedative or tranquillizer such as benzodiazepine. ...
The Committee on Safety of Medicines, whose recommendation to limit benzodiazepine prescribing has had little effect, might do well to follow New York's lead, says the Lancet. ...
...
Known collectively as the Z drugs, zopiclone (a cousin of Lunesta), zolpidem (Ambien) and zaleplon (Sonata) have been touted as the non-addictive alternatives to their benzodiazepine predecessors.
The jury's still out on the controversial issue of benzodiazepines and their possible cause of birth defects. ...
Delirium common among older people after an operation may in some cases be triggered by the use of the painkillers given later. ...
Stays in hospital are a major way of people getting hooked on tranquillizers or sleeping pills (benzodiazepines), according to a recent study. ...
Prescribed tranquillisers are far more toxic, more addictive and kill more people in the UK than all the illegal class A drugs put together.
One of the great tragedies of our times is the terrible legacy of addiction unwittingly created by medicine in its zeal to take away the pain of childbirth. ...