3 Common Drugs Older Adults Might Be Overusing
The problem? Benzodiazepines (including Valium, Xanax, and Ativan) and the related “Z” drugs (Ambien, Lunesta) “may impair balance, coordination, and cognition that can translate into falls and fractures and motor vehicle accidents,” Olfson said. In patients also taking opioids for pain, benzodiazepines can cause overdoses.
Moreover, “once you’ve taken them for a period of time, you develop a dependence, when you come off them, you may develop withdrawal symptoms.”
