Benzodiazepines and older people

Abstract

There is a high prevalence of benzodiazepine use among elderly persons despite the fact that this sector of the population is particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of these medicines. Short half-life benzodiazepines are usually preferred for chronic use in older adults because they do not accumulate in the body, although they have a higher potential for dependence and are more strongly associated with withdrawal symptoms. A review of the literature confirms that benzodiazepines should be prescribed with caution, at low doses and for short periods.