What you didn't know about prescription sleep aids
The use of prescription sleep aids, also known as hypnotics, has been linked to an increase in mortality rates based on several studies. Hypnotic medications, such as benzodiazepines (e.g., temazepam) and non-benzodiazepines (e.g., zolpidem, eszopiclone), have been prescribed to treat insomnia and other sleep disorders. While they can be effective in the short term, research has raised concerns about their long-term safety.
Here are some of the key findings associated with the increased mortality risks of prescription sleep aids:
1. Increased Risk of Early Death
Multiple studies have demonstrated an association between the use of hypnotics and an increased risk of death. A large study published in 2012 in the journal BMJ Open reported that people who took prescription sleep aids were more likely to die prematurely than those who did not. The study followed over 10,500 patients and found that:
Users of hypnotics had a 4.6 times higher risk of dying compared to non-users, even at low doses.
Higher dosages (over 132 doses per year) were associated with a 5.3 times higher risk of mortality.
Even taking 18 or less pills per year was associated with a threefold higher risk of mortality.
The reasons for this association are still not fully understood, and occur whether the users are already in poor health or not. They are believed to be linked to several potential side effects of these drugs, including respiratory depression, cognitive impairment, increased risk of falls, and accidents.
2. Increased Risk of Cancer
The same BMJ Open study also found that those who used hypnotics had a significantly higher risk of developing cancer. Although the biological mechanisms behind this increased cancer risk are unclear, the study showed that those who used the highest doses of hypnotics were 35% more likely to develop cancer compared to non-users.
3. Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Problems
Hypnotics have been linked to a higher incidence of cardiovascular problems, such as heart attacks and strokes. Some studies suggest that sleep aids may affect cardiovascular health by:
Impairing respiratory function during sleep, particularly in people with sleep apnoea, a condition that can increase the risk of heart disease.
Increasing the risk of falls and injuries, particularly in elderly patients, which can exacerbate pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.
4. Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Chronic use of sleep aids, especially benzodiazepines, has been associated with cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia in older adults. A 2014 study published in The BMJ found that older adults who used benzodiazepines were up to 51% more likely to develop dementia than those who did not use these medications. Cognitive issues like confusion, memory problems, and impaired judgment can lead to dangerous situations, including accidents.
5. Increased Risk of Falls and Accidents
One of the most well-documented risks of hypnotic use, particularly in older adults, is the increased risk of falls, fractures, and other accidents. These medications can cause daytime drowsiness, impaired balance, and reduced coordination, which significantly increases the likelihood of falls or motor vehicle accidents. This risk is higher for those over the age of 65, where falls can lead to serious complications like broken hips, which have their own high mortality rates.
6. Development of Dependence and Withdrawal Risks
Some prescription sleep aids, particularly benzodiazepines, can lead to physical dependence when used long-term. Patients who develop tolerance may require higher doses to achieve the same effect, and when they stop using the drugs, they can experience withdrawal symptoms, including rebound insomnia and anxiety, which can be severe. These withdrawal symptoms can increase stress on the body, potentially leading to fatal outcomes in vulnerable individuals.
7. Interaction with other medications
Many patients using sleep aids may also be taking other medications, leading to harmful drug interactions.
Dear Linda, I trust you are well. I am now 80. I get so-called senior moments and lapses of memory. My brain has lost much of its agility. Now, in my old age, I am no longer as nimble-brained as i used to be, with a marked deterioration in the last 3 to 5 years. When young I used to study long hours. I loved books and I adored art and, after art, foreign languages. My native language is Maltese, but my father, who's grandfather Salvatore Flores, started the first private school in Malta, foresaw the greater REACH of English, and I never spoke a word of Maltese in my early formative years. My memory soaked up foreign languages with ease. However, my childhood and adolescence soon became traumatic and, suddenly, at 20 years of age, I developed a full-blown OCD in all its glory. This was 60 years ago, in 1964, 2 years after I returned from London.
I was given Librium which didn't work. Then valium which restored the world to a better perspective, and, at 28 years of age, was switched to 2mgs of Lorazepam 4 times daily. For some years, I took barbiturates, Tuinal, Seconal, Nembutal, but, at 37 I weaned myself off the latter stuff and have never touched sleeping pills again since then. But Lorszepam was and is a tyrant I cannot overcome. I am now on 2mgs of Lorazepam, 5 times daily. Often in my younger years did I shave this amount to zero over six months or a year, but my OCD RETURNED WITH A VENGEANCE, AND I HAD TO RESUME THE LORAZEPAM.
EVEN WHEN STILL 2O, MY OCD WORRIED ME SO MUCH, WITH ITS RUMINATIONS AND OVER-WORRYING, THAT IT WORE MY BRAIN OUT, AND BY 21 YEARS OF AGE, RIGHT UP UNTIL NOW, I SUFFER WHEN I TRY TO CONCENTRATE ON READING DIFFICULT BOOKS. I get to the end of the page by which time I will have forgotten the beginning.
However, if I read the same page a second time, even months later, I realise that I had read its contents before. I STRUGGLE TO CONCENTRATE ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND!!
Well, Linda, it was nice talking to you.
May God bless you and all your family. My illness, I offer humbly to Jesus in reparation for sin, especially my own.
In the final analysis, it opened me up much more to the sufferings of others,and made me a MUCH BETTER HUMAN-BEING.
Sincerely,
Marcus