October 2, 2012
A recent study found that elderly citizens who take certain medications for anxiety or to help them sleep run a significantly higher risk of developing dementia later in life with long-term use. According to the British Medical Journal, the risk could be as much as 60 percent higher for those taking the medication than for those who don’t.
The study examined 95 seniors who had recently begun a regimen of benzodiazepines and 968 who had not. Over the next 15 years, 253 of the patients developed dementia of some kind. 32 percent of those who had taken benzodiazepines during the study showed symptoms of dementia, while only 23 percent of the patients who had not taken the drugs developed symptoms. The study concluded although benzodiazepines may not cause the onset of the condition, there is certainly a link between the two.
Opinions from experts are divided as to whether or not there is a risk of drug injuries with taking benzodiazepines, as two separate recent studies concluded there was no risk of developing dementia with the drug, while three others have shown memory problems in users.
The drug injury lawyers with Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel understand the frustration that comes along with suffering from a drug injury. We’re here to help you if you’ve suffered negative effects from taking a medication that was prescribed to you by a medical professional.