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.