Benzodiazepines, z-Hypnotics, and Risk of Dementia: Special Considerations of Half-Lives and Concomitant Use.

ABSTRACT: The utilization of benzodiazepines (BZDs) and z-hypnotics has substantially increased with the aging of the population, but the risk of BZDs and z-hypnotics in the development of dementia remains a strong concern. This cohort study aimed to evaluate the risk of BZDs and z-hypnotics for subsequent dementia development with a special consideration of their half-lives and the concomitant use of these medications. People aged 65 years and older who were newly prescribed oral BZDs or z-hypnotics between 2003 and 2012 were identified from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. All BZDs were categorized as long-acting drugs (≥ 20 h) or short-acting drugs (< 20 h) for further comparisons, and data were collected on a quarterly basis, starting on the first date of drug prescription a

SUBMITTER: Tseng LY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7007460 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature