In a study published today in the journal British Medical JournalInserm researchers confirm the link already suspectedbetween the consumption of certain sleeping pills – benzodiazepines – and the onset of dementia in people aged over 65.
However, it seems that we are quite dependent on these sleeping pills since ANSES in its latest “State of play consumption of benzodiazepines in France” affirmed that one in five French people consumes a benzodiazepine or a related drug each year. And a few days ago, the High Authority for Health affirmed in turn that one in three people over 65 years old, regularly consume these sleeping pills.
Benzodiazepines: what are they?
Benzodiazepines are psychotropic drugs with sedative and hypnotic properties intended primarily to treat anxiety and sleeping troubles.
France has distinguished itself in recent years by its record consumption figures for psychotropic drugs. In 2009, France held the second step of the podium of the biggest European consumers of anxiolytics after Portugal, and of hypnotics, after Sweden. If consumption has tended to decrease since 2000, it has nevertheless started to rise again for two years, observes the drug agency. >> To read also: Depression: Can we become addicted to antidepressants?
A two-year hold for one in two consumers
The French still consume too many psychotropics. Who are these addicts? The Afssaps gives some indications: users of benzodiazepines are mostly women (60%). There is a difference in drug treatment according to age – young women consume more anxiolytics while older women consume anxiolytics and hypnotics. Another interesting figure, the median treatment time is 7 months (half of patients take this type of medication for 7 months or more, editor’s note) whereas the recommended intake of this medication is in principle of short duration.
Worse, nearly one out of two “patients” treated with a benzodiazepine is for more than 2 years, “with or without interruption of treatment”, points out the Afssaps document. However, prolonged use of benzodiazepines is not without danger. “Memory and behavioral disorders”, “altered state of consciousness and psychomotor functions”, risk of addiction are some of the risks associated with the misuse of these drugs. Without forgetting the possible link with the Alzheimer’s disease. >> To read also: Alzheimer’s: tranquilizers and sleeping pills, risk factors?
Health authorities are advocating better supervision of prescriptions by doctors, the main prescribers of psychotropic drugs, and increased awareness among the general public. Moreover, psychotropic drugs are not an end in themselves. Alternatives exist to drug treatments such as psychotherapies,homeopathyetc. >> To read also: Depression: how to treat it without medication
