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WEDNESDAY, Nov. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News)<\/p>\n
Strong sleeping pills known as “Z-drugs<\/a>” may increase the risk of falls, fractures<\/a> and stroke<\/a> among people with dementia<\/a>, British researchers report.<\/p>\n People with dementia<\/a> can have trouble sleeping and are often prescribed drugs<\/a> such as zaleplon<\/a> (Sonata<\/a>), zolpidem<\/a> (Ambien<\/a>) and zopiclone<\/a> to help them nod off, but higher doses of these drugs can have negative effects.<\/p>\n “As many as 90% of people with dementia<\/a> suffer sleep<\/a> disturbances and it has a big impact on their mental and physical health, as well as that of their carers,” said Chris Fox, from the University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School.<\/p>\n “Z-drugs are commonly prescribed to help people sleep<\/a>. However, these medicines were never licensed for dementia<\/a>, and they have been associated with adverse events such as falls and fracture<\/a> risks in older people,” Fox said in a university news release.<\/p>\n For the study, the researchers collected data on more than 27,000 patients in England diagnosed with dementia<\/a> between 2000 and 2016. Their average age was 83. More than 3,500 had been prescribed Z-drugs.<\/p>\n “We studied a range of adverse outcomes including fractures<\/a>, falls, deep vein thrombosis<\/a> [clots], stroke<\/a> and death, over two years. And we were particularly interested to see whether higher doses led to worse outcomes,” Fox said.<\/p>\n “For patients prescribed Z-drugs, 17% were given higher doses. And we found that these patients on higher doses were more at risk of falls and fractures, particularly hip fractures, and stroke<\/a>, compared with patients who were not taking any medication for sleep<\/a> disturbance,” Fox said. These effects were not seen at low doses of the drugs.<\/p>\n “This research shows us that higher-dose Z-drugs should be avoided, if possible, in people living with dementia<\/a>, and non-pharmacological alternatives preferentially considered,” Fox said.<\/p>\n However, patients taking higher doses of these drugs shouldn’t stop taking them suddenly, but seek advice from their doctor, the researchers noted.<\/p>\n Higher-dose Z-drugs were defined as equivalent to 7.5 mg or higher of zopiclone<\/a>. Zopiclone is no longer available in the United States.<\/p>\n The report was published online Nov. 24 in the journal BMC Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n For more on dementia, head to the U.S. National Institute on Aging<\/a>.<\/p>\n SOURCE: University of East Anglia, news release, Nov. 23, 2020<\/p>\n Steven Reinberg<\/p>\n ![\"MedicalNews\"](\"https:\/\/images.medicinenet.com\/images\/HealthDay\/healthday.png\")
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