Although long-term use of benzodiazepines, such as Valium or Xanax, is linked to higher risks for falls, car crashes, and broken bones, Lauren Gerlach and colleagues found that nearly a third of the low-income older adults (mean age = 78 years) they studied had transitioned from short- to long-term use of a benodiazepine. Gerlach says: “This shows that we need to help providers start with the end in mind when prescribing a benzodiazepine, by beginning with a short-duration prescription and engage patients in discussions of when to reevaluate their symptoms and begin tapering the patient off. We also need to educate providers about effective non-pharmaceutical treatment alternatives, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, for these patients.”

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