The Carlat Psychiatry Podcast
Deprescribing Anti-anxiety Meds in Older Adults
Mar 25, 2024
Dr. Chris Aiken discusses the risks of anti-anxiety medication in older adults, emphasizing the importance of tapering off to reduce adverse effects. Topics include dangers of deprescribing, risks of abrupt discontinuation, navigating anti-psychotic meds in dementia patients, and guidance on tapering and substituting anxiety medications for the elderly.
22:47
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Quick takeaways
- Deprescribing benzodiazepines in older adults reduces fall risks and improves stability.
- Tapering off various medication classes in older adults requires careful strategies to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Deep dives
Deprescribing Anxiety Medications in Older Adults
Tapering anti-anxiety medications in older adults, such as benzos, is crucial due to the increased risks of falls, sedation, and accidents associated with these medications in older age. The podcast highlights a case of an older adult on lorazepam who experienced a fall and initially denied any link to the medication, emphasizing the common denial among patients regarding the risks. It stresses the importance of carefully tapering off benzodiazepines to mitigate withdrawal symptoms and improve patient outcomes, illustrated by a case where discontinuing lorazepam led to improved stability and reduced symptoms for an elderly patient.
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